SUMMER MEETING. 43 



Rtiferring back to the reason faculties of the plant, we let it go on 

 trjiog to reproduce itself by making plants until it has made all we 

 want; then we again change its plaos by heading it off in the cutting 

 of the runners, which throws it back to its first idea of making seed, 

 when it at once sets about to do it ; but it reasons that the season is 

 too far gone to ripen its seed and it can only prepare itself for next 

 season by getting the fruit buds as near perfect as possible before 

 going into its winter quarters. So by letting the early runners take 

 root and cut the late ones all the plants are strong and have the crown 

 well rounded, which means berries the next season. 



As to varieties, I had intended to say something, but as we nearly 

 all have our favorites and differ so much in our choice — perhaps on 

 account of our diversity of soil — that I can only say what does best 

 with me. 



After testing perhaps a half hundred varieties I am now cultivat- 

 ing only the following: \¥arfleld, Cresent, Lady Rusk and Bubach 

 as pistilates, while for staminates I use the Sharpless, Mitchell and 

 Gandy, though the Gandy is a very poor fertilizer. My preference is 

 in the order named. I place the Warfieid at the head of the list, with 

 Bubach at the foot, for an all-purpose berry. The Gandy is a reason- 

 able bearer when cultivated in hills, but it will not do to crowd it in 

 matted row. It is a large late berry, of very firm texture, which makes 

 it carry well for shipping long distances. The burr is large and coarse, 

 holding them well apart, keeping them from bruising in the box, thus 

 looking well at the end of their journey. The Mitchell is only fit for 

 a fertilizer, as it bears too few berries of a very soft flesh, only fit for 

 home use. I consider it the most overestimated berry in cultivation, 

 one in which the novice is sure to be disappointed, and even as a fer- 

 tilizer it is much inferior to the Sharpless, the latter being a much 

 stronger staminate, sending up its pollen loaded, large blooms well 

 above its foliage, enabling it to scatter or float its pollen without any 

 interference of its own leaves. In getting plants to set, get them as 

 close home as possible and don't forget the importance of getting^ 

 plants from beds that have never borne berries, and above all avoid 

 buying strawberry plants from fruit tree agents. 



G. W. Williams, Humansville, Mo. 



DISCUSSION ON STRAWBERRIES, 



By Mr. Williams — In regard to brother James' paper on strawber-^ 

 ries, and that point in regard to the Crescent seedling running down at 

 the end of the season, now, I want to say that my experience has been 



