208 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Aside from this the lack of a sufficient building, and the consequent 

 absence of those in charge, except during work hours, left the grounds 

 clear for trespassers, at all other times. Under these circumstances, and 

 with the approval of the Board, I have, during the season, constructed a 

 building to serve as an office, and temporarily as a residence, so located as 

 to afford ready surveillance of the entire premises. 



The care and oversight of these additional undertakings have, unavoida- 

 bly, to a greater or less extent, interfered with, embarrassed or delayed my 

 operations in connection with the appropriate work of the station- 

 Commencing with the earliest fruit to ripen. 



STRAWBERRIES— Fragaria. 



During the spring of 1890, one hundred and forty-nine varieties of 

 strawberry, many of them new, or newly introduced, with a few not yet 

 offered for sale, were planted at this sub-station, with the purpose, aside 

 from merely testing the values of the varieties, to do something in the 

 way of comparing the results of cultivating in matted rows, with what is 

 known as hill culture. 



With this purpose in view twenty-four plants of each variety were given 

 a length of row of two rods, inclusive of three feet space between the 

 first and second twelve plants, and an equal space between varieties; or, 

 in other words, each twelve plants occupied a space of thirteen and a half 

 feet, the space between rows being four feet. 



With each variety, the first twelve plants were allowed to form and root 

 runners freely, with care to keep them well upon the space assigned to the 

 row and prevent intermingling with adjacent rows. 



The vigor of the second dozen plants, of each variety, was reserved by 

 the constant removal of runners as they appeared, thus strengthening the 

 original plants, and turning their energies to the development of addi- 

 tional crowns. 



On the approach of winter, the plat was mulched, as a safeguard against 

 possible injury in winter. This mulch was removed in spring to admit of 

 cultivation; and the ground was kept thoroughly free from weeds, till the 

 fruit commenced to ripen. 



The picking was done on alternate days, under careful supervision, the 

 picker being required to pinch off the stems, leaving the calyx attached to 

 the berry; and the product of each dozen plants was separately weighed 

 and recorded, those from matted rows, and those from hills, separately. 



The earlier part of the season having been more than usually favorable, 

 the plants generally reached the fruiting season in vigorous condition, 

 with promise of a bountiful crop. During the first half of the ripening 

 season, these prospective indications were realized. About this time, 

 however, the weather suddenly changed to hot and dry, occasioning a 

 serious shrinkage of the remainder of the crop, by the withering or blast- 

 ing of much that, under more favorable conditions, would probably have 

 matured. 



The healthy foliage grown under conditions already mentioned was 

 apparently so far affected by the change that it failed and was replaced 

 by the new growth, earlier than usual; in some cases with much apparent 

 enfeeblement of the plant. 



For this reason, apparently, there was little if any development of fun- 

 gus upon the foliage, and no depredations of insects have been observed. 



