Secretary's Budget. 289 



Shaffer's splendid, large, fine berries from canes clipped in spring 

 to within a foot of the ground, and there are still many green ones 

 on the shoots from the shortened canes. It surpasses other varie- 

 ties in this habit. The following has just come to hand : Chas. 

 "W. Garfield, Secretary of the Michigan State Horticultural Society, 

 thus writes : "Shaffer's is the best market berry I have. Last 

 year I sold a few for canning purposes to people of good sense, and 

 this year they were in great demand at the price of the best reds. 

 Without question it is the best canning berry we have." — 0. B. 

 Galusha. 



KOOT-HABIT OF THE STRAWBERRY. 



According to one of his latest bulletins from the State Experi- 

 ment Station at Geneva, Director Sturtevant on August 13 of last 

 year washed out a strawberry plant, of the Triomphe de Grand 

 variety, with the following result : 



" The roots extended nearly vertically downward to the depth 

 of 2'2 inches. The horizontal roots were few and short, the longest 

 being traceable but six inches. Nearly all the fibrous roots were 

 found directly beneath the plant. The new roots appeared grow- 

 ing out about an inch above the old ones, and the longest of these 

 had attained at this time a length of six iuches. They were white, 

 and tipped at the extremity with a thickened point." 



The teaching of this one observation is that since the roots go 

 deep the bed should be prepared by previous culture and thorough 

 fertilization to a considerable depth ; that, since the roots cover an 

 area scarcely larger than the leaves, the plants may be set close, 

 provided the soil is rich enough to properly sustain all ; and that, 

 since the roots run so nearly vertical, there is little danger of deep 

 cultivation of the ground between the rows, even after the plants 

 have reached full size. And this added point or two we give in the 

 Director's own words : 



" The fact that the new roots grow out above the old ones each 

 year, explains why strawberry plants appear to elevate themselves 

 upward as they become old, and suggests the importance of draw- 

 ing earth toward them after the bearing season. The formation of 

 the new roots above the old ones as well suggests the advisability of 

 surface manuring after the crop is harvested, for these latter roots 

 occupy the uj^per portions of the soil. Our observations also sug- 

 gest the advisability of applying the manure or fertilizer close to 

 the plant as thus being more effective than when placed simply 

 between the rows." 



