HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 39 



I use it, but it is the only way on earth to raise them to perfection. 

 I set them out in August — any time from the first of August to the 

 first of October. I have the ground all prepared and the line set 

 and in setting them out I let two fellows follow after me, and just 

 put them in this puddle I have spoken of ; the clay sticks to them 

 and it does not make any difference how dry or hot it is I never 

 lose a plant. 



Mr. Harris. Will they bear the first year? 



Mr. Pearce. Yes, bear themselves to death. That is my way of 

 raising strawberries, and great big ones too. 



Mr. Wilcox. Would you not get the same result by spring 

 planting, and cutting back the runners? 



Mr. Pearce. No, I would not. 



Mr. Wilcox. What is the character of the strawberry root after 

 the first season? 



Mr. Pearce. It is black. 



Mr. Wilcox. Mr. President: I asked Mr. Pearce that question 

 to draw out the clear statement which he has made. It did not 

 need any argument from Mr. Pearce, or any one else, to convince 

 me that the true way to grow strawberries, and to grow fine fruits, 

 is by fall setting of the plants, and the plan recommended by Mr. 

 Pearce, if we could afford the time and expense to take care of 

 them, is the best possible manner. I wished to draw out that 

 statement from Mr. Pearce because I differed very materially from 

 my friend Prof. Green as to the policy of maintaining a strawberry 

 bed for two or three years, or a succession of years, or as long as it 

 will produce anything. I think that maintaining a bed on the 

 same ground for a succession of years, is one of the causes of the 

 development of fungus and strawberry blight. I think that has 

 been wholly settled, and if they are placed in such a condition as to 

 produce one good crop it is all we ever need expect to get from one 

 set of plants, and it is much better to renew or start another bed in 

 a new position. I do not think we can emphasize that point too 

 much because that is the main point between successful and un- 

 successful strawberry growing. 



President Elliot. I want to ask Mr. Pearce how much water he 

 uses in his fall setting to each plant. 



Mr. Pearce. Mr. President, I generally set out at different 

 times, whenever I have any leisure time, and without regard to the 

 weather at all. A half dozen buckets of water will water a good 

 many plants. When I set them in the summer, I have a barrel of 

 water on the ground, and with a dipper pour probably a pint or 

 more of water upon every plant. 



