fe^.> 



STRAWBEREIES. 



think it would be well for every society to define the rights and duties of its committees 

 and have them printed on every schedule of prizes, so that there could be no mistake. 



There is another point still to which we must call attention, and it is this: Both 

 committees and exhibitors are generally at fault in not having their arrangements 

 completed in good season. We have seen it happen more than once, that in the 

 horticultural department of our State Fairs all the dishes for the display of fruits liad 

 to be procured, and all the fruits arranged, after the hour when all should have been 

 submitted to the inspection of the judges. The consequence was that there was 

 nothing but confusion and grumbling on all sides ; nothing was right — nobody pleased. 

 Timely and ample arrangements should by all means be made. It is much easier to 

 make them before a crowd of uneasy exhibitors arrive, than afterwards. Abundance 

 of water, dishes of various sizes, vases, pitchers, <fec., (fee, should all be in the hall in 

 good season and placed in the hands of a person whose duty it would be to give them 

 out as called for. Then officers should be in waiting to assign every exhibitor his 

 position immediately on his arrival, so that he would not be subjected to the trouble 

 and annoyance of inquiring all around where he could place his articles for exhibition. 

 Exhibitors, too, would save themselves much trouble by being early on the ground 

 and having their arrangements completed before visitors are admitted. Judges, too, 

 should have their duties all discharged before a rush of spectators is admitted to inter- 

 rupt or annoy them. 



We feel it to be a very important matter for the country that these great shows be 

 conducted with the strictest regard to order and regularity. The points to which we 

 have called attention briefly, are but a few among the many that should receive atten- 

 tive consideration, in order that the greatest possible amount of good may be derived 

 from the time and money expended. 



STRAWBERRIES, AND THEIR CULTURE. 



Within ten years past volumes have been wu-itten about strawberries, large numbers 

 of new varieties have been introduced both of native and foreign origin, and multitudes 

 of experiments have been made in order to discover the best method of cultivation. 

 Withal, we must candidly say, that strawberry culture in general is to-day in miserably 

 low condition in this country. See the fruit brought into our markets ; the great bulk 

 is small, sour, dirty stuff, that men who value their reputation as cultivators would be 

 ashamed to offer. In private gardens how rare it is to see a really well managed 

 strawberry plot. Why is it ? The strawberry is one of the most delicious and healthy 

 of all fruits, universally esteemed a delicacy — a luxury that could scarcely be dispensed 

 with. It commands an amply remunerating price in all our markets ; and our climate 

 offers no serious obstacle to its culture in a high state of perfection. Then why is it 

 managed so indifferently ? This is a question that we wish cultivators to 

 themselves, and to one another, and answer it if they can. We apprehend that 



