16 Ji'.rpcriinetital Strawbeny Garden. 



Experimental Strawberry G-arden. 



IpDITOR Horticulturist: In the last two yeai-s I have collected and i)lantc(l at 

 -^ " Woodbuni Farm " (near Columbus, Ohio), some fifty of the newer varieties of 

 strawberries, chie% for the purpose of testing their value as to growth, hardiness 

 and prolificacy in the soil and climate of that region. Some of them are well known 

 in many sections, others are new American seedlings, and a few are recent importa- 

 tions from abroad by the Agricultural Department, whence I obtained them. They 

 were all planted two feet apart, in rows four feet asunder, so as to permit of horse 

 cultivation, and they have been kept reasonably clean and runners cut by running a 

 small plow occasionally between the rows. The soil is clay-loam, surface-drained. 

 Last December the rows were all covered with straw, as a winter protection, but I 

 have not been able to perceive any special benefit from this much vaunted but some- 

 what troublesome operation. Some of the varieties were found to be entirely frozen 

 out, while others were but slightly injured. Again, in the case of some varieties 

 where the straw had been blown oif in places, the exposed plants seemed to be in 

 about as good condition as those which remained covered. On the whole, I am 

 inclined to doubt the correctness of the popular theory of strawberry " mulching," or 

 covering, and have found it, in the growing season, especially, a decided nuisance, 

 for weeds and grass will grow up through it inevitably, and cannot be destroyed until 

 the straw is entirely removed from both rows and spaces. 



Very respectfully, F. A. Simpkins. 



JAst of Varieties. 



Agriadturisf, moderately thrifty, no run- Golden Seeded, moderately thrifty. 



ners. Green rrolijie, first-rate growth, iiol pro- 

 Abraham Lincoln., totally destroyed. lific. 



Ballard^s Seedling, robust growth, shy Gen. Sherman, inferior, not desirable. 



bearer. Halleck's Frolijic, thrifty, poor and small. 



Boyderis 30, splendid grower, fair bearer. Haquin, new, badly winter-killed. 



British Queen, fine foliage, has not borne. Higley's Everbearing, thrifty, ripens rcgu- 

 Burr^s Pine, fair grower, superior flavor. larly. 



Belle Bordelais, thrifty, except where Hovei/s Seedling, fair grower, fine flavor. 



trampled. Jiicunda, vigorous, fruit not large. 



Caliope, good growth, poor bearer. L«f^?/ o/? Ac jL«^'e, strong grower, moderate 

 Champion, died out, complete failure. bearer. 



CAas.Z)o!^??J2«^, moderate, healthy grower. Laurella, strong grower, barren thus far. 



Colfax, immense foliage, small fruit. Leeds' Prolijic, moderately vigorous, fruit 

 Coppick, hardy, new, promises well. small. 



Department Seedlings, 1 to 9, No. 3 best Lennig^s White, strong growth, superior 



grower. flavor. 



Durand\s Seedli?ig, splendid grower, very Matilda, new, promises well as to growth. 



hardy. Naomi, vivid green, very vigorous. 



Globe, much injured by cold. Napoleon III, winter-killed, utterly de- 

 Gloede^s Pine, good growth, poor bearer. stroyed. 



