secretary's budget. 461 



Earle replied: *' Because we can grow it and get it to put into the mar- 

 ket, which we can't do with the Wilson." Mr. Green : " 1 am unable 

 to name any one variety that is better than all others." Mr. Oolman 

 found the Wilson best. Mr. Earle said: "The rust troubles us greatly 

 in southern Illinois; we cannot grow the Wilson for this reason. Cres- 

 cent escapes the rust so far. Then, the Tarnished Plant Bug is another 

 terrible enemy with us, preventing successful culture of most other 

 kinds." Mr. Morrill, Michigan : " Down on the Lake shore we grow 

 immense crops of strawberries for the Chicago market. We use Ores- 

 cents for early on light soil, and Sharpless for late on heavy soil." Dr. 

 Hape: " Sharpless is best in Georgia, especially in the vicinity of At- 

 lanta. We have none of the troubles spoken of by Mr. Earle." Mr. 

 Engle, Pennsylvania : " We grow Sharpless mainly ; Crescent is more 

 productive, but it does not sell as well and never brings as much money." 

 At this point a member started 



BIO STRAWBERRY YARNS 



By telling how he raised a pfetty large strawberry ; for the contagion 

 spread at once until each member seemed desirous of telling a bigger 

 story. The irrepressible Dr. Hexamer alluded to the mammoth Presi- 

 dent Lincoln berry shown at the New York Horticultural Society's 

 meeting some years ago, which measured, he said, 14| inches in circum- 

 ference. He said members might believe, or disbelieve it, as they chose ; 

 but it was a fact. But just as everybody was content to award the 

 honor of the biggest strawberry to the Empire State, a gentleman from 

 that obscure corner of the universe known as Khode Island, arose 

 for the climax, and I'll assume he doesn't want his name published. 

 He said a nest of rabbits was once found in a good sized strawberry 

 raised in his State ; he never measured the berry. After this period of 

 amusement rather than profit. Chairman Barry finally shut oif the big 

 stories and the society took up the discussion of 



BLACKBERRIES. 



Stone's Hardy Blackberry, as compared with the Snyder, was asked 

 about. Mr. Lyon : "■ It is too small, although as hardy as Snyder ; but 

 too small for market." Mr. Johnston, N. Y. : "I find it very hardy, 

 better than Snyder, but small. I believe all the hardy blackberries ai*e 

 small. It continues longer in bearing than Snyder. We think well of 

 it." Mr. Green inquired about theTecumseh ; but in vain, there being 

 no response. Mr. Plumb, Wisconsin, spoke of the difficulty in laying 

 down blackberry canes for winter. Mr. Woodward asked about the 



