PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 9. 



but the hoe and Planet Jr. strawberry cultivator, which consists of 

 twelve teeth and pulverizing attachment. With this cultivator, a Breed 

 weeder, and R. M. Kellogg's plant-setter and automatic runner-cutter, 

 the work of strawberry-growing would be much easier and more profit- 

 able. It is high time for the growers to wake up and procure all labor- 

 saving tools, which will do the work easier and better, and we thus be 

 able to raise larger yields of choice berries. The market is always ready 

 and waiting to give good prices for fancy fruit of all kinds. 



BY MR. W. W. RORK OF AGNEW. 



For ten years we have been growing strawberries in a small way. 

 From the first we desired to know for ourselves the very best and to 

 produce the best. We began with Bidwell, Sharpless, Downing, May 

 King, and Russell's Prolific. Since then we have grown Wilson, Man- 

 chester, Gaudy, Michel, Dew, Bubach, Cumberland, Gillespie, Iowa 

 Beauty, Regina, Beverly, Middlefield, Leader, Enhance, Marshall, and 

 Timbrell. To cover the season I have largely i)lanted Michel, Bid- 

 well, Gandy, and Dew. I am still further trying Marshall and Tim- 

 brell. Marshall is tender in vine and will kill in the bud with frost. 

 Timbrell did well last vear, save that it scalded so that few berries 

 came to the picking in good condition. The balance of those named I 

 discarded. Bubach is not as productive as Bidwell, is too soft, and 

 quality none too good. Gillespie is an excellent berry every way but 

 not as productive as I would like. I may try them again. Enhance 

 is productive, but too poor in quality and softens quickly when over- 

 ripe. Beverly is fine in color, quality, and firmness, but under-size and 

 not very productive. Dew^ is very large, fairly good, and firm, but tender 

 in plant and bud, and bears fairly well only on good soil. It pays very 

 well on account of its size and lateness of ripening. Gandy should be 

 better in qualitj' and yield. We are looking for a better late berry. 

 Nothing has done better for an early berry than Michel, when not 

 allowed to make too many plants, which it will do under any but the 

 most vigorous treatment. I am looking for something better to take 

 its place but have not found it yet. I will speak of only one more, 

 Bidwell. With me this is the nearest an ideal berrv of anv I know. 

 Perfect in vine, vigorous and hardy, has never failed to give fine berries 

 through neglect, frost, and drought. It ripens early and continues as 

 long as Gandy. The fruit is of good size all through the season, is 

 productive, can provide new blossom stalks if Jack Frost gets the first, 

 is the very best in color and firmness, while its quality is second to 

 none. It has brought more money than any I have grown. I now have 

 some new varieties on trial — Brandywine, Staples, and Annie Laurie. 

 So far Brandywine and Staples are promising. Annie Laurie made a 

 good growth but seemed shy in bearing. I have also two foreign sorts. 

 Noble and Latest of All. The first did well, the other made a small and 

 singular growth, but is almost as green as in summer. 



We now come to the soil. It is low. dark, moist sand. We have not 

 used fertilizers, but the ground was new and well supplied with ashes 

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