PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. ' 



soil I use the steel-frame spriug-tootb harrow, setting it to run its 

 lowest depth, and keep harrowing, till the frame fairly swims in the 

 mellow soil. Then roll the ground down until firm and immediately 

 go over it with a light smoothing-harrow, forming a fine dust mulch 

 about one inch deep, so checking all further evaporation. 



Marking is with me a particular point, not only to get the rows 

 straight but uniform in width, so the different tools can be adjusted to 

 run close to the row, without disturbing the plants, the marker I use 

 being preferred to the old style. It consists of four runners, made of 

 2x6 scantling, nailed to two twelve-foot boards, with thills, to be drawn 

 by a horse, which makes a very straight but shallow mark, making it 

 much easier for setting plants than a deep, dried-out mark. 



Be very careful where you get your plants. Many people delude 

 themselves into the idea that it makes no difference, so long as they are 

 strawberry plants, making little note of kind or sex or of the dilapidated 

 condition of the old, run-out bed from where they are taken. Such 

 plants are worse than stunted pigs; for those you can bring up to be 

 thrifty, but the plants you never can. 



In starting I would procure plants from some person that makes a 

 specialty of growing pure-pedigree plants. 



I take great care in this, to have all varieties marked, and by planting 

 two or three acres every year I secure strong, healthy plants that have 

 not been exhausted by fruiting. 



As to varieties it is hard to decide, on account of new kinds constantly 

 coming on the market, the difference in soil and ways of treatment mak- 

 ing a marked difference with same variety. I find by observation a great 

 many that are not posted in regard to staminate and pistillate varieties. 

 The staminate or male plants can be set by themselves, producing perfect 

 blossoms as well as fruit. The pistillate or female varieties produce 

 imperfect blossoms that have no pollen, and must be set close to the 

 perfect-flowering kinds. The wind and bees will complete the task of 

 mixing. The leading varieties with me, for business, are Wilson, Cres- 

 cent, Warfield, Bubach, and Parker Earle. 



The old reliable Wilson has given good satisfaction with me, it being 

 very hardy and productive. I use it mostly to fertilize other varieties. 

 Crescent is the best early variety I have tried. The berries resemble Wil- 

 son very much, in shape and growth, but are of a little lighter color and 

 more productive. Warfield, a grand berry, has but one fault, excessive 

 plant growth, thus forming more fruit than ordinary soil can perfect. 

 But for hills, and especially half matted rows, this variety is hard to beat. 

 The berries are perfect in shape, and very solid, with a beautiful dark, 

 glossy-red color, one of the very best for canning and shipping. Bubach, 

 which makes a short, strong growth, is a good variety for large fruit, 

 and is valuable for home market or fancy trade. I have grown speci- 

 mens measuring 7:| inches in cii'cumference. Parker Earle stands ahead 

 of all other varieties for me. Any berry that will stand the severe freez- 

 ing of the night of May 19, and the worst drought we ever had in this 

 section, and bear an enormous cro]> of fine, large bei'ries, deserves more 

 credit than I can put into words. It was the only one of eleven varieties 

 that produced a full crop. It is esjiecially adapted to hill culture, being 



