38 ANNUAL REPORT 



the snow. It may be wheat straw, marsh hay, or litter from the 

 stable; and there let the mulching remain until late the following 

 spring; then rake it between the rows on the open space; remove 

 the straw from the plant bed. 



WHAT VARIETIES TO PLANT. 



To the majority of farmers and those of little experience in 

 growing strawberries, we would say, plant nearly two thirds Cres- 

 cent Seedlings, and enough of the Windsor Chief and Bubach's 

 No. 5 to make the balance of the two-thirds. Those are all pistil- 

 late varieties. The other third, staminate varieties in equal quan- 

 tities, Wilson, Pioneer and Jersey. If any of those cannot be pro- 

 cured, substitute any of the following: Glendale, Couutess, Sharp- 

 less or Captain Jack. To the experts in growing strawberries we 

 recommend Wilson, Jersey, Bubach and Prince of Berries. 



HOW ARRANGED ON THE GROUND. 



First six rows of the Crescent Seedlings or pistillate varieties; 

 then three rows of the staminate varieties, one row of each. Then 

 six rows of the pistillate varieties and three rows of the staminate 

 varieties, and so on until done planting. 



MANURE. 



Daring the past three years we have been experimenting with 

 manure, applied to the soil and crop in various ways and forms, 

 and the result of those experiments has led us to the belief that 

 the most essential elements to start growth are lost to most farm- 

 ers and fruit growers before and after spread on the ground. Two 

 of the best properties in manure are very liable to waste, viz: am- 

 monia and nitrogen; the first by evaporation, and the latter, when 

 it comes in contact with the moist soil sinks rapidly into the 

 ground, and if left alone, will soon be beyond the reach of the roots 

 of the plant. How to use those two very valuable fertilizers and 

 get the best results from both has not been fully solved. Our aim 

 has been to save the best, and as much of the other as possible. 



As recommended in our paper, by spreading the manure over 

 the ground and allowing it to lie till the nitrogen washed into the 

 soil, and then plowing before it got beyond the reach of the plow 

 to bring it to the surface again, and so on until the time of the 

 setting of the plants, and in this way not allowing the nitrogen to 

 escape or get beyond our reach, we have had remarkable success 

 with all crops. 



A strawberry bed set in the spring or August, on soil thus pre- 

 pared will contain but little nitrogen but what is in the plants 

 late in the fall. A liberal dressing of well rotted manure at this 

 time will furnish just the force they require for another year, and 

 will often more than double the crop. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Harris. I would like to ask Mr. Pearce how long he would 

 recommend keeping a strawberry bed after setting the way he has 

 described, on the same ground. 



Mr. Pearce. I do not want any one to follow this plan because 



