58 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



PLEASURE OF GROWING STRAWBERRIES FOR THE TABLE. 



W. K. Gibson : I thiuk it is a pleasure to raise anything for your own table. 

 But nothing gives better satisfaction than the strawberry, for it gives a return 

 in a short time. Children readily learn to love gardening, but they are apt to 

 become impatient in waiting for such fruits as the apple and pear. In growing 

 our own berries we are all educated. We come to know that the biggest is not 

 always the best. A perfect berry is a fair size, beautiful appearance, and good 

 flavor. Models we want in everything, to approach as near as we can. In so 

 doing we gain both pleasure and profit. 



HOW TO PROLONG THE SEASON. 



The following is from J. N. Stearns of Kalamazoo : 



This is a subject to which I have given some study, as it is very desirable for 

 the amateur or the market-grower to make it as long as possible. 



I do not expect to give any new points, but will mention a few things I have 

 learned by experience, that may be of value to those of less experience. 



In the first place, varieties ripening earliest and latest, must be planted. 

 The earliest I have found of any value is the Crescent; so 1 plant Crescent and 

 Wilson for early. Downing is my best medium. 



Mfc. Vernon, Manchester, Kentucky, and Glendale are all good late varieties. 

 The two former are my choice. 



The plants should have thorough cultivation, so as to go into winter perfectly 

 clean from weeds and grass. If they are so, I do not consider spring working 

 necessary; but if spring cultivation is necessary to make them clean, it should 

 be done as early as possible, which is no detriment. 



They should be mulched as soon as the ground is frozen ( not before ). 



The early varieties mny be mulched lightly on the rows, and raked off 

 between the rows early, that they may start with the first growth of vegetation. 



The late varieties should be mulched heavily between the rows, and lightly 

 on the plants, letting it remain on in this form; but care should be taken that 

 it is left but very light on the rows. This is the important point of the whole 

 matter. 



I have had great damage done to plants in leaving the mulch too heavy 

 directly on the plants too late to hold them back. If the season is just right 

 they may recover, but if it comes dry and hot after removing the mulch, the 

 plants are sure to suffer. 



The very light mulch on the row, just enough to shade the ground, and the 

 heavy mulch between the rows, will accomplish the same desired effect, to retard 

 the plants, and without any fear of damage. 



If it were practicable to irrigate between the rows in a dry time, this will 

 help to retard the ripening and prolong the season; but water applied directly 

 to the plants has a tendency to bring them forward, I think. 



In a plat of two and a half acres, managed as above, I have been picking 

 the Crescent for ten days now, the 7th of June. 



The Manchester and Mt. Vernon will not be in their prime for a week yet. 



T. T. Lyon : If we can delay the ripening of even ordinary varieties it will 

 often pay. Irrigation will do this. 



HEALTHFULNESS OF STRAWBERRIES. 



Dr. 0. Marshall: Considering the large amount of strawberries used at this- 



