SMALL FRUITS. 15 



sufficient room for tillage or for putting mulch on the straw- 

 berries; also, if you have a wider space it will hold more 

 moisture. I think that five feet is none to near. 



President Underwood: How wide a matted row would you 

 have? 



Mr. Sampson: I should estimate about eighteen inches. 



Mr. C. Wedge: Do you keep the matted row eighteen inches 

 wide? 



Mr. Sampson: That depends somewhat upon the variety. 

 The Crescents will cross from one row to the other. "When one 

 wants to cultivate right through regardless of plants, I think 

 the solid bed is not as profitable as one with a space between 

 the rows cultivated and mulched. 



Mr. C. W. Sampson: Can strawberries be fertilized five feet 

 apart? 



Mr. J. A. Sampson: I am not authority on that subject, but I 

 understand that strawberries can be fertilized, according to the 

 best of my Knowledge, as far as ten feet apart, if not further. 



President Underwood: How long would you retain a bed of 

 strawberries ? 



Mr. J. A. Sampson : In my experience I find two years in one 

 place is the better way, but I sometimes hold over three; but 

 two pickings are all that I rely on. I never calculate to set out 

 plants except those taken from a new set bed; I do not believe 

 in taking plants from an old bed. 



Mrs. A. A. Kennedy: Prof. Green, what kind of strawber- 

 ries are the most fruitful, those with a long stem or short stem? 



Prof. S. B. Green: I think as a rule that the varieties that are 

 the most fruitful are those with a short stem. 



Mrs. Kennedy: If the wind blows hard does it blow the pol- 

 len away? 



Prof. Green: I do not know that this is the case. There is this 

 much in regard to pollenization,in seasons when we have heavy 

 rains when the pollen is shed by the anthers, it is very likely to 

 be washed away. I think strawberries are largely fertilized by in- 

 sects ; I believe more so than ever since I have experimented with 

 them. I believe as a rule we get a better crop of strawberries 

 if we plant every second row rather than oblige the pollen to 

 travel such a long distance. I think experience in various 

 places has shown that five feet apart would be too far apart to 

 put the rows. I have known a case, however, where one row 

 of May King fertilized seven rows of Crescents, but that was a 

 special season. 



