STATE HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. 313 



Season middle of June. Sharpless, a very large, oblong, conical 

 bright red, excellent berry, liable to grow coxcombed; plant bisexual; 

 strong and vigorous; needs hill culture and protection against spring 

 frosts. 



Of the new varieties many are very promising, and seem destined to 

 surpass everything that has gone before. But when we remember the 

 great cry that has accompanied the advent of so many that have 

 proved disastrous failures, we should hesitate to commend any of them, 

 except to amateurs for use in an experimental way. To such I would 

 say, try the following list, some of which I shall test for my own sat- 

 isfaction : Jessie, Jewell, Alpha, Arnold's Pride, Cornelia, and Par- 

 ry. Alpha for early and Cornelia for late will extend the ripening 

 season for six weeks or more. 



CULTIVATION. 



To grow a crop of strawberries alike pleasant and profitable to the 

 grower will require the most careful attention and thorough culture 

 at his command. 



For most varieties the matted row system with judicious thin- 

 ning is best, while some like Sharpless, Jewell, etc., will not succeed 

 except in hills. 



For matted rows prepare your ground as you would for an onion 

 bed, smooth and fine, as early in the spring as possible. Mark your 

 line by running a red string through it every eighteen inches, drawn 

 tight across one edge of your field, close to the ground for the first 

 row. Prepare your plants by thoroughly cutting not more than one 

 hundred at a time, and if your ground is full of cut worms a little 

 Paris green in the water will make itself manifest. With a small boy 

 to drop a plant at every mark, then follow with a trowel and set your 

 row about three inches from the line. Remember to spread the roots 

 as much as possible, and press the dirt very firm around them. 

 Draw your line for the next row four feet from where it was before if 

 earl^' in the spring, or three and one half feet if later, and repeat the 

 operation. In this way it is an easy matter to set an acre a day, and 

 the plants will thrive better than in any other way. 



The after culture will consist of keeping the ground clean of all 

 weeds and grass with the cultivator and hoe, and as nearly level as 

 practicable, continue this until about September first, when they should 

 be properly thinned and left entirely alone for the formation of fall or 

 fruit roots, on which will depend the abundance of next season's crop. 

 After the ground is well frozen apply mulch for winter protection, 



