98 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The Jessie does well with me; but my neighbors on heavy or on 

 moderate clay have no success. The Wilson, that old standard 

 everywhere, does well with them but has failed with me for a series 

 of years. The Crescent, Warfield and others of that type, appear to 

 be adapted to all the different soils. I believe, however, that with en- 

 tirely favorable weather, these varieties will produce more vigorous 

 plants and bear more fruit upon a moderate clay loam than upon a 

 sandy soil. The seasons are variable and uncertain, but the great 

 obstacle, drouth, can be more or less overcome b}^ judicious working 

 of whatever soil we have. 



Pres. J. M. Underwood: The question of soil is now open 

 for discussion. Which is the best soil on which to grow straw- 

 berries? Has any one any suggestions to offer? 



Mr. C Wedge: After some observation among those who 

 are succeeding with the strawberry, I believe very few are 

 succeeding who have not a considerable proportion of sand in 

 the soil. On my own place the soil has very little sand; it is a 

 very stiff yellow clay subsoil, rather near the surface, and if I had 

 depended upon strawberries for a living the last three or four 

 years, in spite of the good care they have had, I should be 

 worse off than I am now. 



Pres. Underwood: Would it not be practicable if you wanted 

 a small strawberry bed, say, for instance, as large as this room, 

 to draw in some sand and put it on the land? 



Mr. Wedge: I think that might do, perhaps, on a small 

 scale. I think the general -difficulty with our stiff clay soil is 

 that it drys out and cakes so easily, and it is a very difficult 

 matter to maintain it in such tilth that it will retain moisture, I 

 notice that kind of soil becomes dry and hard even where it is 

 mulched. I have even taken great pains to put on hay and 

 chaff for mulch. If any one has any idea of growing straw- 

 berries, he should choose a soil that is sandy. 



Pres. Underwood: I take it thai what we want to do as much 

 as any thing is to instruct the farmers of our state how they can 

 grow fruit for themselves. Of course, the market producer is 

 going to study how to make it a success, if he grows straw- 

 berries for the market, but we represent the strawberry interest 

 in the state of Minnesota, and we want to send out such advice 

 in our publications that farmers and town people can go at it 

 in an intelligent manner to raise some strawberries for them- 

 selves; and while it is all right to discuss this matter from a 

 commercial standpoint, I would like to have that thought kept 

 in mind for the benefit of the home fruit grower as well. 



