90 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



I planted some strawberry seeds in Feb., 1884, in pots in the house. 

 In April 1 set them out in the open ground and gave them no special 

 care or cultivation. Hoed them twice, and then pulled up the weeds 

 as they appeared afterwards. They generally grew very well for such 

 small seedling plants, aiid many made runners freely. I let them grow 

 without restraint, and they set runners as best they could. I gave 

 them no winter protection whatever, as I wished to test their hardi- 

 ness. 



These seedlings are now all fruiting more or less for the first time. 

 Nine-tenths of them are worthless, but some show great promise. One 

 in particular I will mention, as all persons interested in strawberry 

 growing should see it. 



This plant made a very strong and large stool, and then sent out 

 runners in every direction that covers a piece. of ground five feet by 

 ten. The mother plant has now seventeen fruiting stocks from eight to 

 twelve inches high, and have on them 158 perfect berries, which will 

 make, when ripe, more than a quart. 



The runners from it have all set fruit, and the estimate made of 

 them by all who have seen them, to be a bushel of fruit when ripe. 

 These berries are all perfect, of large size, fine quality and handsome 

 •color. 



This estimate in hill culture will make them yield over 43,000 

 quarts; in matted rows, four inches apart, 56,000 quarts; in neglected 

 hap-hazzard, as here, 27,000 quarts per acre. This is a big statement, 

 but can be corroborated by good men or any person who comes to 

 see it. 



It is producing more from the mother plant than fifty plants of 

 either Mrs. Garfield, Atlantic, Jumbo, Diisy, Daniel Boone, Indiana, 

 Old Iron Clad, Longfellow, Warren, Big Bob, Jersey Queen, Manches- 

 ter, Miner's Prolific, Kentucky, Glendale, Bidwell, Wilson, Mt. Vernon 

 and Sharpless on my grounds. 



I send with this what the Leavenworth Times says upon it : 



''Dr. J. Stayman has on his farm a cluster of original seedling 

 strawberries which have been out only a year, and the tendrils have 

 spread so that the vines now cover a space about five by ten feet of 

 ground around the original plant. The latter '?ives promise of yield- 

 ingabout a quart of fine berries, while the "patch" growh from it will 

 yield nearly a half bushel. This growth is a subject of wonder among 

 the horticulturists in the neighborhood." 



