JUNE MEETING, 1877. 97 



trees will give when wo arc supposed to luivc so good a mother as Lake Michi- 

 gan to keep us warm. 



Mr. Stearns. — I wisli to atld one word about the kind of trees to employ in 

 screens. It is quite important tliat when our trees are planted out for this 

 purpose they live. The pines have large roots with few fibres while the oppo- 

 site is true of spruces, and it is less hazardous in any season to plant out spruces 

 than any of the jnues, and as long as all agree that the spruce is good for the 

 purpose, this is another argument in favor of its use. 



Tlie next question for consideration was : 



OF THE NEWER STRAWBERRIES WHICH ARE THE MOST PROMISING? 



Mr. Lyon opened with a paper as follows : 



The accomjjanying notes upon a collection of strawberries now fruiting upon 

 our grounds are made during a pressure of business so exacting as to preclude 

 a very careful examination and comparison of authorities, and hence it is pos- 

 sible that cases of mistaken identity may have remained undetected ; although 

 in nearly all cases it is believed that no doubts can exist as to their correctness 

 to name. They are in nearly all cases growing upon light sand, but generally 

 extending into that of a stronger character. 



Nicanor was the first to ripen, showing a few ripe berries on Tuesday, the 

 fifth of June. This must be considered as strictly an amateur berry, rather 

 small in size, borne on short stems, and should always be mulched to keep the 

 berries clean. Fruit of high quality, small in size, but glossy and rich in color 

 — very productive — plant not very vigorous. 



Matilda is a strong vigorous grower, ripening a few berries within a day or 

 two after the preceding, but seems likely to continue in season somewhat longer 

 — a circumstance possibly attributable to a somewhat stronger and moister soil. 

 It is producing a very heavy crop of exceedingly large and showy berries of 

 very good quality, and seems quite promising as a good market berry, at least 

 for near markets. It may prove deficient in firmness as compared with the 

 AVilsou, which it equals — possibly exceeds — in size and productiveness. 



Mexican Everbearing may have possibly shown an occasional ripe berry 

 earlier than either of tlie foregoing, and the slender feeble, looking plants may 

 doubtless be depended upon to continue the process till stopped by the autumnal 

 frosts. Any one fanciful in such matters, by planting a rod or two square of 

 this, may be able, at almost any time from now till October, to indulge in a 

 dish of strawberries. Its appearance and quality are too well known to require 

 description. 



America is a comparatively new variety introduced, or at least disseminated, 

 through this region by parties at Kalamazoo. It showed ripe fruit tliis year as 

 early as the Gth of June. The plant is vigorous and very productive both this 

 year and last. Fruit large, quality excellent, but lacking in color, and to some 

 extent in firmness, unfitting it for any but near markets. 



Downer's Prolific may be set down as ripening its first fruits this season on 

 the Gth or 7th of June. The plant is vigorous and very productive, and the 

 fruit large and beautiful but rather tart. With a little more firmness it would 

 take a high position as a market berry. 



Chas. Downing this year ripened with the preceding and with more color and 

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