SUMMER MEETING AT BUTLER. 89 



Strawberries went through the winter in good condition, bloomed 

 heavily. Many berries of some varieties were killed by severe frosts 

 about the lOlh of May, the Sharpless being the most injured with 

 me. My crop of berries now picking is the poorest in many seasons,- 

 but somebody has raised berries, from the plut in this Kansas City 

 market at present, I am now" selling at lower figures than I ever sold 

 since I have been in the business. The market is completely demoral- 

 ized. I think commission men here have contributed no little in bring- 

 ing about this state of affairs, and to their sorrow, too. I learn they 

 have dumped hundreds of crates into the Missouri river the past week. 

 They have injured the grower elsewhere, themselves, and the grower 

 here. I hope they will see their folly in the future. I am often asked 

 the best strawberry to plant. This is a very hard question to answer. 

 If I were asked what not to plant, I could answer more correctly. So 

 far as my experience goes I would not plant Wilson, Downing, Ken- 

 tucky, Glendale, Minor's Prolific, Phelps or Warren. All these have 

 been popular varieties, but have all played out with me. I think well 

 of the Sharpless, Manchester, Finch's Prolific, Mount Vernon and 

 James Vick. Many of the newer varieties not yet tested by me may 

 prove valuable. 



Raspberries. — The Black Caps will not make more than about one- 

 half crop. Reds, the same. Of the Blacks, the Hopkins is the least 

 hurt; this is the first time it has ever baen injured by winter-killing 

 before. The Cuthbert is killed to the ground with me, and Thwack 

 nearly as bad. 



BlacJtherries — Snyder and Taylor, sound, do not know how they 

 are fruiting. 



My strawberries are not worth showing. I am ashamed of them. 



Kansas City, June 8, 1885. 



The following letter was read : 



Leavenworth, Kansas, June 2, 1885. 



L. A. Ooodman., Secretary Missouri State Horticultural Society: 



Dear Sir: Your circular stating the time of holding your State 

 meeting received. It would afford me much pleasure in meeting with 

 you, but we are in midst of our strawberry picking, and have to attend 

 to it. You ask if I can give "'something for your summer meeting." I 

 cannot do very much in that line, but as I am in the strawberries, Will 

 say a few words upon that subject that should be of interest to every 

 strawberry grower. 



