50 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



as all want a good sized, bright and uniform berry. The question then is 

 what varieties will reach the different markets in this condition; and in this 

 connection there is so much depends on the soil, culture and handling that it 

 is hard to name a variety suitable for any of the different markets without 

 specifying the conditions under which it is to be grown. However, supposing 

 these conditions to be right, of the better known varieties, I consider the Cres- 

 cent stands first as a berry for a distant market, as it is of fair size, very bright, 

 enormously productive, and a reasonably good shipper. For a near, or as is 

 commonly called, a home market, I like the above for an early berry, but for 

 the main crop there is nothing to my mind better than the Sharpless, as a 

 single variety, or the Sharpless grown with some large, finely formed, perfect 

 flowering sort, such as the Cumberland or Manchester, which gives the box of 

 berries a much more finished appearance, and perhaps the cross fertilization 

 may exercise a beneficial influence on the green tips of the Sharpless. If my 

 market were a canning establishment I should grow Wilson and Crescent al- 

 most exclusively. 



E. H. Scott : The largest varieties bring the most money. Crescent, Wood- 

 ruff No. 1, Manchester and Mt. Vernon pay best with me. 



Mr. Holmes, of Lansing, said his experience also was that the larger sorts 

 sold best. He was growing the Sharpless, Bid well and Manchester mostly. 

 The dry weather had used up the Crescents. 



Dr. Marshall, of Lansing : I prefer Manchester, Bidwell and Sharpless. 

 My Crescents dry up this year. 



Mr. Maybee, of Lansing : Wilson is a prominent market variety here. 



W. E. West, of Lansing : The Wilson is the poorest variety I have. There 

 are half a dozen better varieties. 



METHODS OF GATHERING. 



The following paper was read from P. W. Johnson, of Grand Kapids: 



" I will comply with your request for a brief note on ' Gathering Strawber- 

 ries,' by simply giving my own method, which, if not the best, can be taken 

 for what it is worth. As the location of the berry patch is frequently changed 

 I built my packing house on runners, so I can move it at will, and always 

 locate it convenient to the crop to be gathered, be it strawberries or raspberries. 

 It should be so arranged as to admit of free ventilation, when required. The 

 sides may be hung with hinges so they can be swung out and form convenient 

 awnings. It should have a wide counter on which to receive and pack the ber- 

 ries. In gathering large crops two persons are required besides the pickers ; 

 one to receive the berries, keep accounts, and do the packing in crates, the 

 other to superintend the picking. The average strawberry picker is not to be 

 trusted without such supervision. It is quarts he is after, and constant watch- 

 fulness is required to prevent the picking of green berries, or the opposite ex- 

 treme, of leaving many ripe berries ungathered. Many berries are spoiled on 

 the vines by careless handling, or are crushed by heedless pickers, who hardly 

 know where their feet are in their eagerness. Girls are generally reliable, but 

 most boys are not to be trusted out of sight. If left alone, they will throw 

 berries and wrestle, and raise Cain generally. Money is no object to a boy 

 when he is tired. When the day to commence the harvest arrives, the pickers 

 assemble at the berry house eager for the onset and the first taste of the ripe 



