STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 51 



and experiment to overcome it if possible. Some varieties have already proved 

 hardier in this respect than others, giving promise that by extended testing of 

 those we already have, and in the production of native seedlings a remedy may be 

 found. Undulating or rolling land, sufficiently so to insure prompt surface drain- 

 age, has proven safer than that which is very level. 



Different exposures, especially in reference to the sun, increasing or lessening 

 the sudden transition from heat to cold, is lecognized as of great importance, and 

 certainly shows that shielding against the direct rays of the sun gives promise of 

 the surest crop, with least danger to life of tree or plant. 



Jn regard to the best material for and manner of applying winter covering, and 

 whether it is of special u.se during the most trying ordeals, there certainly is a 

 diversity of opinion. Yet it is a subject of the highest importance, and we 

 anxiously await further light upon it. 



I sincerely hope I have presented a matter worthy of your careful consideration 

 and discussion, believing that if we can point out, how, Ijy proper selection of 

 varieties, soil and cultivation, to in the main overcome the unfavorable influences 

 of moisture and temperature, we can readily trust to the intelligence of the aver- 

 age fruit grower as regards what is usually termed cultivation. 



In reply to a question, Mr. Fawcett said that his soil in Indiana was 

 a limestone clay. For a number of years, he had relied entirely on the 

 Wilson, but later he had found the Charles Downing the most profitable. 



Mr. Grimes asked which had been found most profitable, hill or row 

 jDlanting. Mr, Fawcett said he grew Wilson's only in rows. The 

 Charles Downing he grew in matted rows, clipping ofi" the runners. 

 He had found the Kentucky and Seth Boyden a success only in hill 

 culture. He asked the most favorable exposure, soil and protection, for 

 the strawberry in Minnesota. 



Mr. Grimes replied, that as to soil, he found dry clay land the safest. 

 He said if the ground froze up dry, in the fall, without snow, that we 

 must mulch immediately and liberally. Mr. Underwood thought dry 

 lands more unfavorable than wet ones; said on his grounds, where the 

 soil was dryish, the plants root-killed the worst. On low lands, he 

 had never lost any plants by root-killing. 



Mr. Gibbs never lost any plants by winter-killing, except in 1872 and 

 3, but always mulched heavily with straw. 



Mr. Underwood explained that his soil was oak opening, inclined to' 

 be sandy. 



Mr. Gibbs believed the severe winter-killing of 1872 and 3, the result 

 of low temperature. On a portion of his field of eight acres, by acci- 

 dent, about two feet of straw was left on a small space, and that was 

 the only part of his field that produced a good crop, though the balance 

 was well mulched. Thinks that if after the usual autumn covering, 

 if the season proves excessively cold, it is a good plan to put on more 



