92 ANNUAIi REPORT 



ing at time of setting out. Would advise clipping off all but one 

 or two leaves. 



Mr. Elliot and Mr. Pearce agreed with Mr. Underwood. 



Mr. McHenry. The leaves should be stripped downward, not 

 clipped: otherwise the stubs would exhaust nearly as much vitality 

 as the whole leaf if left on. Would not allow more than three 

 leaves to remain on the plant in setting out. He had been disap- 

 pointed with Bidwell. Got his plants from E. P. Roe. Blossoms, 

 perfect. 



Mr. Pearce. 1 think the Bidwell a poor plant. 



Secretary Gibbs. Mr. Cutler asked for information about hill 

 culture. It is not generally profitable. Still, with the right va- 

 rieties you can grow larger and better fruit. Even the Wilson, 

 which is not rated as the most vigorous grower, may by hill culture 

 on good soil and runners all kept off, be grown so that a single 

 plant cannot be put out of sight by a bushel basket, and bear 250 

 berries the second season. T have had a bed of 800 such plants. 

 Rows about three feet apart, ridged up like a well hilled potato 

 row, and the hollows filled even full with green cow manure. 

 Young chickens in the spring to run under the foliage and take 

 the cut worms. Affidavit furnished if required. Perhaps there 

 was now and then a hill not quite so large, but not many. 



Mr. Cutler. Is not 300 bushels to the acre a big story? 



Secretary Gibbs. Yes, but may be true. J. M. Smith, of Green 

 Bay, President of the Wisconsin Horticultural Society, has a 

 record of nearly 450 bushels of Wilsons to the acre. He is coming 

 to-morrow and will confess it, under torture. 



Mr. McHenry had exceeded that rate on a few rows. 



Secretary Gibbs. I have a paper on a new insect threatening 

 destruction to the strawberry plantations of Minnesota which you 

 can have now if you want it, or it may go over to be printed with- 

 out reading. 



Several members. Read it. 



President Sias. We should be glad to have it in this connection. 



