262 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Question. Which is the best raspberry ? 



Mr. Smith — Kansas is considered among our people to be the best. 

 This year we have an early variety called "Progress," that paid better 

 than the Kansas. It is the longest berry ripening that I have ever 

 grown. 



Question. What is its size ? 



Answer. It is not quite so large as Kansas. 



Maj. Holsinger — What has been your experience in irrigating the 

 strawberry ? 



Mr. Smith — It is only a two-acre patch near town, within reach of 

 the cily water-works. I connected a small pipe with one of the mains 

 which passes my place. It was laid on top of the ground with a faucet 

 every 100 feet, and I got 100 feet of hose so that I could water the 

 ground, beginning with the first faucet, then the second, third, fourth, 

 and 90 on. We begin watering at about 4 o'clock and keep it up all 

 night. I do not think it would do to water in mid-day, and I think 

 right cold water would injure the fruit. 



Question. Did it pay you ? 



Answer. Yes, sir ; it did. I have great faith in irrigation. I un- 

 derstand that in this country you do not want much water. With re- 

 gard to raspberries I would say that I have discarded the Souhegan. 

 It has simply fallen a prey to the anthracnose.and Gregby is going the 

 same way. We have got to follow up new varities as with strawberries. 

 We are not at all satisfied. The Olden raspberry is better than the 

 Kansas. 



Mr. Gilbert — I would like to say that the Captain Jack is a flat 

 failure with me. I have had it for five years and have clung to it upon 

 the recommendation of those who say that if you give it rich ground 

 it will produce an abundance. I have tried it in our virgin soil, and 

 have fertilized it up to as much as the plant would bear, and find that 

 I have killed some plants with too much, but I find that I cannot make 

 it bear at all so that it will pay. I can grow other varieties at $1 a 

 crate and make more money than with Captain Jack at $5. We don't 

 get enough perfect flowers to make the imperfect flowers fruit. I 

 shall not plant any more, and shall take out what I have. 



Maj. Holsinger — What are the three best varieties in your section ? 



Answer. It is a question which is the best, Schuster's Gem or 

 Warfield, fertilized with the Comet, which is new. It resists the 

 drouth, and is a healthy bearer and a good shipper. I believe that the 

 old varieties with better cultivation will, at least some of them, give 

 much better results than trying to introduce the newer varieties with- 

 out being thoroughly tested. 



