dressing of marsh hay or straw free from weeds, should be placed 
oO er them, not as a protection against cold but to prevent the 
alternate thawing and freezing by which the roots are heaved up — 
and destroyed. After spring has opened, the material may be 
raked from off the plants leaving it between the rows to act as a 
- mulch to keep down weeds, retain moisture and to protect the 
fruits from contact with the soil. If the beds have been well 
taken care of they will fruit two years in a satisfactory manner, 
but if allowed to become foul with weeds it is cheaper to make a 
new bed. It is better to use soil that has been under cultivation 
or at least two years previous to setting the plants, for sod con- 
tains white grubs that are very destructive to young plants. I 
should recommend for a kitchen garden, the following varieties : 
Bomba and Havyerland for early; Burts Seedling and Daisy for 
_ medium; Crawford and Middlefield for late. These planted in the 
2 order named, will give each alternate row of pistillate varieties 
insuring a perfect pollination. 
4 While I consider these varieties the best of the newer kinds for 
the purpose named, there are several of the older varieties that h 
will give good satisfaction, as Bidwell, Charles Downing, Crescent, , 
_ Cumberland, and on heavy soil none are better than Sharpless. In 
so short an article as thisit is impossible to meet every detail, but 
_ the Station is ready and anxious to answer any inquiry in regard 
_to the culture of fruits in its power. | 
_A DESORIPTION OF VARIETIES. 
: Belmont, P.t—This is a very showy berry when fully ripe. 
a fruits oblong with thick neck, but bears a large number of 
- coxcombed fruits. With good culture it will yield an average } 
crop. The berries are firm and of very fine flavor. Season late. ; 
A Bidwell, P.— This has been a very profitable variety in some iff 
a sections, but is not reliable enough for general use. Fruits of i, 
medium size, soft and not of the best quality. Season early. : 
* Those marked * have been tested but one season. 
_ The letter P is used to designate a perfect flowering variety capable of 
_ fertilizing itself. Imp. being used for the imperfect or pistillate varieties, 
or those that should have a perfect flowering variety planted with them. 
isexual plants are those having perfect and imperfect blossoms on the 
ame plant. In report of L. J. Farmer the letter H means perfect flower- 
