266 State Horticultural Society. 



In cultivating, I tiy to do every thing that will add to the 

 strength and fruiting power of the plant, and while the treatment 

 given is oftentimes a violation of all the rules laid down by authori- 

 ties, it gives the results sought. 



Thinning the plants in the late summer and fall is the best in- 

 vestment made. Who would think of sowing corn broadcast when 

 a large crop of well developed ears is desired. Then why expect a 

 satisfactory crop of large highly colored, well flavored berries on 

 plants that afe crowded so thickly in the- rows that they root one 

 over another, the late formed ones only being able to root at all in 

 very wet weather, and then only in the air, possibly. I thin four 

 to eight inches apart, according to size of plants and am rewarded 

 for the trouble by having larger, more highly colored and better 

 flavored fruit and more of it than I otherv/ise would have had. 



Then, it ripens earlier and more uniformly and of course is more 

 easily picked and g-rades higher. We make two grades, "h!' and 

 "B." In the early part of the season most all the fruit will grade "A." 

 as a rule, and what does not is brought to the sheds by the pickers 

 who have the faculty of doing things exactly wrong — while at the last 

 of the season probably all the fruit v/ill go as "B's." 



In marketing I prefer shipping on consignment to good reliable 

 houses (there are plenty of them) in the markets that I expect to do 

 well during a term of years — to selling; on the track, when that can be 

 done, and being compelled to consign when tliere are no buyers. 



It seems to me more business-like and satisfactory to make ar- 

 rangements som.etime before shipping season opens and know as far 

 as possible at least what firms and mnrkets will be used. 



Then it is desirable to make the acquaintance of the people yen 

 expect to do business with — to study Avith them their markets and 

 requirements, and our home conditions as well. 



And, judging from the acreage to fruit the coming season and 

 the increased plantings in prospect in Southwest Missouri, all ad- 

 vantages to be derived from acquaintance and otherwise will be 

 needed. I intend, in fact, to get just as near to our representatives as 

 possible and by close co-operation I trust to be able to place fruit in 

 the future in our markets in better shape than we have been able 

 to do in the past. 



Re-icing the cars must be looked after by ourselves by placing 

 our own people at the re-icing stations to see that this important 

 work is properly done. 



In conclusion, I will say that the commercial strawberry grower 

 of Southwest Missouri has much to be thankful for. 



