STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 85 



lieve this can be found, and will be, if we look for it; then we can 

 raise some as fine blackberries as were seen years ago. 



The whole of this report I believe will be lowered by the August re- 

 port, and I fear we will yet have to report less than half a crop of 

 apples, perhaps even one-third. 



The reports from other States have not yet been received, but from 

 private sources I believe that few States will have more than half a 

 crop of apples. 



L. A. Goodman", Secretary." 



President Smith announced the next thing in order would be a 

 paper fiom Mr. Pearce, of Minneapolis. 



STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 



BY M. PEARCE. 



Mr. President, I am at a loss in determining what to say to catch 

 the attention of horticulturists and arouse them to action on this, a 

 subject of the utmost importance to farmers and all having houses and 

 homes, and especially those located in the vast prairie districts. Of 

 all fruits I koow of nothing earlier or more reliable than the straw- 

 berry, and no crop gives better profit to the grower. The cost of 

 plowing one acre of corn land is $2; harrowing, seventy -five cents; 

 7,000 strawberry plants, $28; planting them with a line three and 

 one-half feet one way and fifteen inches the other, $5; cultivating and 

 hoeing during the summer, $12; mulching very lightly in the winter 

 with marsh hay or straw, $6 — making a total cost per acre of $53.75. 

 This covers all material expenses up to the picking season. An 

 average crop per acre of a good variety of strawberry should not be 

 less than 250 bushels, and with the best of soil and cultivation and 

 abundance of water, the number of bushels per acre can be increased 

 to 500. On a basis of 250 bushels at the low rate of ten cents per 

 quart, the value will be $800 per acre; the expense of picking, boxes 

 and crates, $240, having a net profit of |5G0 per acre. 



The greatest care should be used in getting new and pure varieties 

 pf plants; never take from old beds, and get plants from those who 

 use and know how to grow good plants; avoid new varieties with 

 fancy prices, and use only the old and established kinds. Matted rows 

 and hills have their advocates, and both are good — my greatest success: 

 having been with matted rows, as follows: Select a moderately rich. 



