PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 39 



during the season right up to late in the fall ; but to our surprise, after 

 mulching it during the winter, our growth was chickweed as thick as it 

 could possibly grow. We were left in a dilemma. We did not know 

 what to do. We thought probably it wouldn't be so bad after a while, 

 but it kept getting worse all the time. We kept pulling it out toward 

 the road, we thought it would check the growth of the weeds. But the 

 frost overtook us. We had covered them previous to the frost and 

 though it would protect them. Beder Wood failed to blossom. Jessies 

 were killed in blossom. But after thev blossomed out again thev 

 set very heavily with berries, and we thought we were going to have a full 

 crop; but the best of them wilted right down and we laid it to the heat. 

 Our berries were all mulched and had particular care, and yet they failed 

 to produce. 



Q. I would like to ask if you recommend street sweepings? A. Yes, 

 sir. 



Q. We don't regard them in Port Huron as good for anything. A. It 

 was nothing but clear horse manure. Our pavement sweepings won't 

 produce weeds. Ordinary street sweepings are not good. 



Mr. Arthur Green: I would like to ask about Muskingum. Mr. 

 Gunson, have you ever noticed some varieties that grow and turn over 

 from the frost? 



Mr. Gunson: I have noticed that, but my experience in strawberry 

 culture has been but limited. Some of these varieties I have never har- 

 vested before. I should think that was a point well taken. 



Mr. Green: Muskingums were nearly all killed, but Aftons and 

 some of those short-stemmed varieties came through. Leroy, I consider a 

 very good berry — very fine plant, and stood the drought about the best 

 of anything. Warfield has that advantage, and Afton is almost like it. 



Mr. Lawton: I would like to ask if any one has practiced thinning out 

 strawberry plants. Do you thin out any? 



Prof. Taft: Some kinds do, of course, make great numbers of plants. 

 Take the old Pacific — of course they should be thinned out, by cutting the 

 runners in the beginning, and then, perhaps, arranging them in a narrow 

 row. 



Mr. Little: Does it pay to grow plants and fruit for commerce? Let 

 every plant grow? A. I should say not. 



Mr. Morrill : I should say that would be the poorest kind of practice. 

 I grow strawberries for plants, but never for plants and fruit both, and T 

 think people in the future will insist upon having specially grown plants. 

 I think the man who attempts to grow his own plants and set them by 

 simply taking the tips off, certainly can not expect the best results. 

 That is my own private opinion. I don't think the fourth plant, and 

 hardly the third plant, on the runner is worth setting. 



CHERRIES. 



Mr. Lawton: I grow Early Richmond somewhat. I find they are 

 very profitable. I never saw where Early Richmonds grow any better 

 than in Michigan. I grow them on sand — don't want the ground heavy 

 nor very rich. They are as profitable as anything you can have. 



