376 ANNUAL REPORT. 



the following summer (two years ago) they produced a croj) of 

 berries that astonished the natives. People came from far and 

 near to see the grand sight and get a taste of the luscious fruit. 

 Lawyers, doctors, preachers, the aged sire, decrepit widow and 

 blushing youth went into ecstacies over the beautiful sight, and 

 many was the resolve made to set out a good strawberry bed, 

 which I am pleased to say has generally been carried out. 



Twenty-seven hundred quarts were picked from the piece, being 

 at the rate of one hundred and thirty -five bushels per acre; 

 which with plants sold brought about four hundred dollars. 



The past season 1,400 quarts were picked from the same piece, 

 mostly Crescents, the Sharpless making but few new plants and 

 producing but few berries. Had they done as well as the Cres- 

 cents at least 2,000 quarts would have been produced, 



I have concluded that the Sharpless is not adapted to field 

 culture. Last spring I set out over an acre, setting several new- 

 kinds, among them Piper, Manchester, Bidwell, Glendale, Jumbo 

 and Phelps (or Old Iron Clad). Piper made a good growth of 

 healthy looking vines not fruited yet. Bidwell a fine healthy 

 looking plant with large, fine looking berries. Manchester badl 

 rusted; will not set any more at present. Old Iron Clad, a large, 

 rank, fine growing plant with large, fine looking berries, bids 

 fair to do well here. Glendale does well as far as tried. 



There is a good demand for berries ^here about the time or 

 just after they are all gone. So I have been looking for a very 

 late berry. Last spring, seeing the Jumbo (or latest of all) 

 highly advertised, I sent five dollars for fifty plants, started them 

 in the house and as soon as the ground was in good condition set 

 them in the field. My object being to get a large number of 

 plants, I picked most of the blossoms off. The few remaining 

 produced large, meaty, well formed, bright scarlet, pleasant 

 tasting berries. Being started in the house they ripened early. 

 The plants made a vigorous, healthy growth, and I think I have 

 at least 5,000 plants. James K. Eowley, of Illinois, says that 

 from a plant he fruited he picked two nice berries the second 

 day of August. Rethinks it will be a great acquisition to horti- 

 culturalists. A. M. Purdy says it is from eight to twelve days 

 later than any other and very productive. 



Mr. E. Crandall, one of my neighbors and a member of our 

 society, gathered over 2,000 quarts from about an acre the past 

 season, mostly Crescents and Sharpless. 



Mrs. Larabee, a widow lady of Glencoe, picked seventy-five 

 quarts of the same kind from a small bed in her yard. 



