"72 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



possible cost, as was said about the barrel of apples. Mr. 

 Wyman buries his canes. I do not believe I can afford the 

 time and the effort to cover the tops of the canes, and under 

 my system of growing it is not necessary to do so. 



No. 74. Name the best commercial varieties of (a) red 

 raspberries; (b) black raspberries; (c) purple raspberries; (d) 

 blackberries. 



Mr. Conant: I am hardly able to answer that, although I 

 have looked into the matter somewhat in regard to what were 

 the most prolific and hardy varieties, and I find among growers 

 throughout New England that the Herbert and the Cuthbert 

 are the prevailing commercial varieties of red raspberries, the 

 Herbert being perhaps a little hardier plant, but not so large a 

 yielder as the Cuthbert. 



No. 63. Should strawberries be set on fresh sod land? 



Mr. Wyman : If you want them destroyed by white grub, 

 set them on sod land. 



No. 64. What is the best method of preparing the soil for 

 strawberries ? 



Mr. Wyman : I would prefer a soil in the first place that 

 has been planted the year before and cultivated, and then plow 

 it in the fall and also in the spring, and have it well harrowed. 



Question : I would like to ask one question in regard to 

 strawberry growing. I am able to get a very good stand of 

 plants in the matted row system and now I want to know the 

 best method of fertilizing those strawberries. Should I put it 

 on this fall, or wait till spring, and what should I put on? I 

 want to get big berries. I have always been trying to get large 

 berries. I do not succeed in getting the very largest ones. I 

 have a very good stand. 



Mr. Conant: Mr. Wyman, will you give the gentlemen 

 your experience in fertilizing and managing a strawberry bed? 



Mr. Wyman : My idea would be to use barn dressing, if you 

 use it in the fall. I do not like barn dressing used in the spring. 

 And then, the year that the plants are in bearing, use commer- 

 cial fertilizer, if any. 



Mr. Conant : Would you use nitrate of soda for your nitro- 

 gen? 



Mr. Wyman : Yes. 



No. 39. Should lime be used in the orchard? 



