SUMMER MEETING. 33 



T. T. Lyon: No perfect flowering varieties out-yield Crescent and Jewell. 

 The fact of our getting so many pistillate varieties is due, I think, to our using 

 such with which to obtain crosses, they being more convenient. I think, 

 perhaps, that we are in danger of over-doing in this direction. 



C. W. Garfield : Why not set plants as soon as new ones have rooted? 



A. G. Gulley : You can seldom get them before September, and my experi- 

 ence has been that it is best then to wait until spring. 



T. T. Lyon : The plants I set early this spring are two or three times as far 

 advanced as some set a week later. I am thoroughly convinced that we cannot 

 set too early in spring. 



Dr. 0. Marshall : I would advise setting in spring, especially for field cul- 

 ture in matted rows. If set in the fall we only get a few berries next year 

 anyway. 



STYLE OF PLANTING. 



The following was read from George S. Linderman, of Grand Rapids : 

 " To plant strawberry plauts, first thoroughly prepare your ground so it is 

 well pulverized, mark one way as for corn, at least four feet apart. East and 

 west is my choice. Now take a double shovel plow aud drive west so the hind 

 plow blade will leave the south side of the furrow just where the mark was; 

 carry your plow back to the east end. Have a pan large enough to hold plants 

 for a row; place the plants in it with the roots down, fill with water so it will 

 cover the roots. Let one man take this to drop the plauts the distance you wish 

 them planted, thoroughly wet with water. Another man gets upon his knees, 

 seizing the plants by the top with the left hand, and with a whirling motion 

 spreads the roots on south side of furrow, a little below the top, so it will be as 

 low as the surface when level. With the right hand nearly open, take what 

 moist earth he can from the opposite side of the furrow, placing it on the wet 

 roots with what pressure he can, and that plant is set ; three motions to a plant. 

 If he is an active man, the dropper has got to be lively to keep out of his way, 

 but he should not in any case get far ahead, so the roots will get dry. When 

 the first row is done, mark your next row and drive back so as to throw the 

 earth on the roots of the first row and repeat. Two active men can plant one 

 acre per day and have time for a game of ball at night, and when done your 

 plants will be in best possible shape to grow in a dry or wet time." 

 Vice President Hon. W. K. Gibson was then called to the chair. 



HILLS OR MATTED ROWS. 



A. G. Gulley : Whether to grow in hills or matted rows depends partly on 

 the market. We, at South Haven, growing for the Chicago market, cannot 

 make it pay to grow Crescents or Wilsons in hills. These kinds sell just as 

 well and yield three to five times as much in matted rows as in hills. Sharpless 

 and Bid well must be grown in narrow rows or hills, but we cannot afford to 

 grow these varieties for the Chicago market, as they will not bring enough 

 higher price to pay for the difference in yield. We have the rows twelve to eigh- 

 teen inches wide, according to variety. It is hard to keep the Crescents in the 

 rows. 



T. T. Lyon : In Muskegon and Ottawa -counties, where the soil is lighter 



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