ANNUAL MEETING AT NEVADA. 331 



An invitation of Cotty College to visit their college at any time, 

 was sent and read before the society. Moved that it be accepted and 

 thanks of the society returned. 



PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS ON SMALL FRUIT. 



BY Z. T. RUSSELL, CARTHAGE. 



If the word "practical" had been omitted from the subject assigned 

 to me, it would have been easier. It is an easy matter to write line af- 

 ter line and to add page upon page; but to make what you write practi- 

 cal omitting all mere theories and manifestations of "crankiness," is no 

 easy task. However, I shall make the effort and indulge the hope that 

 if I wander away from the subject, or fail in confining my remarks to 

 that which is practical, I may be excused on account of inexperience in 

 composition. 



Beginning with the preparation of the soil, I will say that, during 

 eight years' experience, I have never plowed for small fruits of any kind, 

 deeper than about five inches; and in some places not more than three. 

 Plowing to the depth often to twelve inches, and sub-soiling to the 

 depth of twenty inches, as often recommended, may be a very wise and 

 profitable thing to do in some soils, but I have never subsoiled. Most 

 of my soil is full of. stumps, and some of it is rocky. 



Sub-soiling on such land is simply impossible. I have raised 

 some very fine strawberries on land that was so rocky it could scarcely 

 be plowed at all, certainly not more than two. or three inches in depth. 

 Hence I say that deep plowing, however desirable it may be considered, 

 is not absolutely necessary to the growing of strawberries. They natur- 

 ally prefer new land and on such they will do better, with shallow plow- 

 ing, than on old land with deep plowing. 



