148 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



We use stable manure and cover crops as fertilizer. After the first 

 year or two we quit growing other crops than currants. Then we drill 

 in two or three rows of soy beans, cultivate them at the same time 

 that we do the currants and then in the latter part of August or Sep- 

 tember, we sow in turnips and after the frosts have killed the soy beans 

 the turnips come on. This cover crop system has been very successful 

 with us. 



One point in closing I may mention tbat it would be well for you to 

 guard against danger in planting currants of their roots working up 

 by freezing during the winter. A better way is to keep them well 

 covered with mulch during cold weather the first year or two. 



DISCUSSION. 



A member — Have you ever used commercial fertilizer on strawberries 

 and if so when and how? 



Mr. Farnsworth — I have used it in different ways. As a complete 

 fertilizer on the plants in summer, after planting, and I have also 

 experimented with nitrate of soda in the spring. I have never got any 

 very definite results. I believe that while a good many do use com- 

 mercial fertilizer and many get excellent results, yet the commercial fer- 

 tilizers are at some disadvantage with the strawberries more tlian with 

 other fruits for the reason that the strawberry demands humus more 

 than any other fruit and that is where commercial fertilizers are defi- 

 cient. The claim is made that you get a firmer berry by commercial 

 fertilizers. In our work, our markets are not very far distant, and we 

 ship every two hours. Our grocers to whom we ship would rather 

 pay the three or four cents extra for freight for fast freight and have the 

 berry reach them fresh from the vines than to wait until they get them 

 in the ordinary way so we have not had to watch that question of 

 firmness and I am not able to give very much information on this 

 question. 



Q. Did you ever try hill culture out? 



Mr, Farnsworth — ^No. In order to use that to any advantage, you would 

 want to have a fancy market. Hill culture is all right, but the great 

 bulk of the strawberries are grown by the thin matted row system. You 

 can get a first-class article and more of them in this way and at a less 

 cost than from the hill system. On the other hand of course there is no 

 question but what more fancy beri'ies can be raised by the hill method 

 than otherwise. 



.Q. How far apart do you set plants? 



Mr. Farnsworth — ^That depends upon the variety and on the soil. 

 On this new ground, we set out Dunlaps four feet apart each way, which 

 is plenty close enough. If we were planting some other varieties on a 

 thinner soil, we would set theiu perhaps one foot or eighteen inches 

 apart. I have rows four feet apart and in the rows eighteen inches. 



Q. How do you like the London Market currant? 



Mr. Farnsworth — I have heard it recommended by many and I bought 

 some of them. If I have the genuine London Market, I don't like it. 

 Either I don't have the Pennine article or it is worthless with me. 



Q. How much should be expected from an acre of strawberries. 



Mr. Farnsworth — Well I never yet got four hundred bushels to the 



