of Rural Art and Taste. 



285 



they grow determines the color, size, and 

 quality of the berry. When we were about 

 to set our grounds a person came to us with a 

 sample of berry, and said that he had a new 

 and superior kind and wished to sell us vines. 

 At the rate he proposed it would have cost 

 $40,000 for vines enough to have set our 

 ground, and in addition he wanted one-quarter 

 of the net proceeds forever after. We did 

 not accept the proposition. I was poor and 

 the rest of the company were not altogether 

 green. We went to a neighboring swamp 

 where we knew the vines were good, and 

 obtained them for nothing. And what is the 

 result? We have raised larger and finer 

 berries than he ever did, or I think ever will. 

 The Bell is the best kind to set. 



"Is winter flooding indispensable?" I 

 would not say indispensable, but very ne- 

 cessary. Good cranberries have been and 

 can be raised without it, but the crops will 

 not be as sure nor the grounds as permanent 

 in bearing as with it. Flooding not only 

 keeps the grass and weeds down, but destroys j 

 the insects and enriches the soil. I should 

 always flood where I had the means, when it 

 was not too expensive. One party in Cape Cod 

 floods a ten acre plantation with one windmill. 

 I will close by saying, let every one who has 

 lands adapted to this business utilize them. 

 Suffolk Co., L. I. S- Lee. 



Crnnberriea. 



As to the comparative merits of different 

 varieties of cranberries, we supposed that no 

 one would ever forsake the old Bell. 



Monlny Sliawbeiry Jieils. 



At our recommendation a gardener at 

 Syracuse, N. Y., tried this plan and met with 

 good success, and has communicated his ex- 

 perience as follows : For several years past, I 

 have adopted the practice of mowing my 

 strawberry beds at the period that the plant 

 ceases to put forth new leaves, and the old 

 ones look dry and rusty. This treatment 

 prevents the production of runners to any 

 great extent, the bed being renewed by off- 

 shoots from the crowns of the old roots. 

 Usually by fall the plantation will exhibit 



one mass of fresh-grown leaves. This treat- 

 ment fails only when a dry and hot spell 

 succeeds the mowing. I have never suffered 

 but once in this way, when the beds were 

 badly burned and thinned out. I did not 

 lose them, however, as they afterwards 

 revived, and though five or six years old, 

 look, this season, like new beds. I am so 

 well satisfied with this system, that I shall 

 always continue it, taking the risk of having 

 the operation defeated by a drouth, which 

 after all only happens occasionally. With 

 plenty of rain it succeeds perfectly. 



A Neil' I/'se for Conl Ashes. 



A G-eneva gardener has succeeded in keep- 

 ing his currant and gooseberry bushes free 

 from the currant worm by mulching heavily 

 with coal ashes. The ashes also have another 

 value not expected, viz. : keeping the ground 

 cool and moist, so that even English goose- 

 berries will bear heavy crops without sign of 

 mildew. We judge also the use of coal ashes 

 would be good for asters which need cool soil 

 also. 



Enortnous Shvpinent of Strawberries. 



The total amount of shipments of straw- 

 berries from the Delaware Peninsula to 

 market during the spring season of 1874, 

 amounted to no less than 665 car loads, or 

 5,280,000 quarts. Prices have been de- 

 cidedly unremunerative — the supply has ex- 

 ceeded the demand, and there has been 

 general gloom — the old story of the Vineland 

 and Hammonton strawberry fever has been 

 repeated, and we are glad of it. It is full 

 time growers should learn that strawberries 

 are not to be grown as extensively or as 

 cheaply as potatoes, nor on as large a scale. 

 No grower can clear any profit on berries at 

 less than 10 cts. per quart. 



The close of the season has its incidents — 



some of them humorous. The Seaford Citizen 



! says : A gentleman who has devoted his time 



I and labor in the shipment of strawberries this 



I season cleared just $1.00 over and above his 



entire expenses. Another man, who was 



largely engaged in growing and shipping 



finds himself $13.00 in debt. 



