290 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Question. Why should not common farmers raise them 

 under a high state of cultivation ? 



Mr. Slade. Because, when they have such land as I told 

 you about the other day, when they undertake to pick the 

 stones, they will find enough to fill a drain. It is a good deal 

 of work to get the ground into a proper state. 



Mr. Capen. In regard to the Wilson strawberry, I will 

 say that it is not ripe until it colors nearly black, something 

 like the Black Prince. It more nearly resembles the Black 

 Prince than any other strawberry we have. The Prince 1;^ 

 very dark in color, with a very high flavor. There is a good 

 old strawberry which has gone out of cultivation (the Wood) 

 which is perhaps as highly flavored a strawberry as any we 

 raise. 



Capt. Moore. I have two acres now in single rows, and 

 the whole question turns upon this, really, in my judgment. 

 There are certain varieties, like Hovey's Seedling, that throw 

 up but one flower-stem. It is impossible to get a large crop 

 in single rows from varieties of that kind. The Wilder is 

 another one. No plant ever throws up more than one flower- 

 stem. You cannot get a crop in single rows : therefore you 

 must have them in matted beds. That has been settled to 

 my satisfaction. That will apply to the Wilson also. I 

 think the Wilson should be cultivated in matted beds. But 

 when you get a strong growing variety, like Miner's Prolific, 

 or the Sharpies, or Cumberland Triumph, which is destined, 

 perhaps, to be the market-berry here, you can grow them in 

 rows. The Cumberland Triumph is a variety that grows uni- 

 form in shape, — every one like a hen's egg, almost, every one 

 smooth. It will run the whole season of large size. Its fault 

 is, that it is a little soft. It is harder than the Charles Down- 

 ing. The plant grows finely ; but that variety, when grown 

 in wide rows, is a different thing entirely from what it is 

 when grown in beds. It is a light-colored berry ; and, when 

 grown in wide rows, it is high colored, and the berry itself is 

 firmer. It is a berry that sells remarkably well in Boston 

 market. I have two acres planted in rows three feet apart. 

 You might ask me why I did not plant them nearer. I have, 

 as I told you before, land enough : I have more than I can 

 take care of properly. And really I do not find that the strong 

 growing kinds need so much room: twelve or fourteen inches 



