56 ANNUAL REPORT. 
ries are large and hold their size well to the last picking. It is avery rank 
grower, and I always plant them in hills 20 inches apart, and pick ‘off all 
the blossoms the first year, as I do with all kinds when newly set. - keep 
all the runners picked on this variety except to produce plants. Ex cept 
the first year it throws out no yunners until the plants are done | ting, 
which is not the case with any other variety that I am acquainted rt 
Charles Downing has a short root like the Wilson. Does not stool u 
hills enough to make it profitable, except in matted rows. Did well hn 
season. A splendid berry, uniform in size, very fine fiavor. Will not 
stand a drouth as well as some other varieties. ° 
Downer’s Prolific.—Not a large berry, quite early. A bluish bloom on 
the berry leads some people to say it is mouldy. This variety, on rich 
ground and ina rainy time is apt to mildew. This variety does best on 
old beds without being plowed up. If I wanted a strawberry bed and to 
do no work on it after the first year, I would plant this variety. I havea 
bed that has not been plowed for four years, that last season yielded well. 
A few Charles Downing mixed to help fertilize them makes do much better. 
Green Prolific.—Of excellent quality, large, of fine flavor, and planted 
beside Wilson or Michigan seedling, have been quite profitable with me. 
Kramer’s Seedling.—Originated in Iowa. Quite hardy, a blood-red berry 
of very fine flavor, a rank grower, rather deficient in pollen. Not always a 
sure crop, but has some seasons done well. 
Triomphe de Gand. A French varlety. A very fine flavored berry. 
Rather tender. I have known it to kill when well mulched. Some seasons 
it does well, but it is a tender variety for this climate. 
Hardines of Varieties. 
I have never covered many plants of any kind. My experience warrants 
me in saying early scarlet is the hardiest of any thing I have found. The 
Ida next, and Michigan seedling and Wilson next. Last season I had two 
beds of strawberries that faced the south; one was Wilson and the other 
was early scarlet; the Wilsons were about half killed, while the early 
scarlet were not hurt in the least. One year ago last fall I mulched four 
rows of Michigan seedling heavily with crushed sorghum stalks. [I let 
the mulching remain till I saw the green leaves begin to come in sight. 
I then uncovered the hills where I thought the plant could not get up 
through, and Jet the mulching remain till after fruiting. I never have 
seen as good a crop. They were larger, nearly a week later, than other 
rows of the same variety on the same ground. Some idea of the pro- 
ductiveness may be gained from the fact that the picker who gathered 
them picked 50 quarts in one-half day. I came to the conclusion that 
mulching paid. 
. Hills or Matted Rows. 
I have cultivated Michigan Seedling, Green \Prolific, Wilson, Kramer’s 
Seedling and other varieties iu hills, while the Ida and Early Scarlet as be- 
fore described. 
