38 ANNUAL REPOKT. 



of as lie sent me some of the plants as soon as he could get them. I 

 planted them side by side with the Downer and after keeping them 

 two or three years allowed them to run together, as I could d scover 

 no difference, either in size of berry or quality of fruit. I believe them 

 to be identical and also that they are a profitable variety for farmers 

 to plant. I believe there is no more profitable variety. It was orig- 

 inated by a man in Kentucky who also originated the Charles Down- 

 ing, a few years later. I agree with Mr. Pearce that there is no berry 

 that can surpass the Crescent seedling in hardiness and productiveness; 

 but if not properly fertilized it is inclined to be knotty or imperfect, 

 especially after the first picking. I don't consider it the farmers' 

 berry because it needs some other variety with it to fertilize it and 

 they are usually too busy to attend to their proper cultivation. I 

 do not quite agree with him that we should fertilize with the Wilson 

 or Glendale; there is too much difference in the varieties as to the kind 

 of soil required and the habits of the plants in order to have the best 

 results.' The Crescent will often bear heavily after it becomes partial- 

 ly overrun with blue grass or white clover; the Wilson will produce 

 nothing under such circumstances. A heavy fall of snow is apt to 

 ^mother the plants; if you set them j'ou are obliged to set with some 

 perfect blooming variety or your first setting of the Crescent will prob- 

 ably be a failure. With the Glendale I am not so well acquainted. 

 If it blossoms as soon as the Crescent I am inclined to think it will be 

 one of the very best. The Downer, or Countess, I believe upon all 

 ordinar}' soils the very best to set in rotation with Crescent seedling. 

 The color of the berries is about the same but the flavor of the Down- 

 er is a little bit better than that of the Crescent. I think it gives the 

 best satisfaction to fertilize with the Downer; it is about as hardy as 

 the Crescent. I have them growing on my place where I had berries 

 seventeen years ago. And we get good berries there now; the plants 

 perpetuate themselves. It is one of the fittest berries for the man 

 that is too lazy to keep the weeds out. Speaking about rich soil, the 

 Crescent on very rich soil will not produce as large a berry as on me- 

 dium good soil; the berry is soft and destitute of flavor. There is 

 probably no berry in our list that we have reconimendt^d that we want 

 to be more careful in over-feeding, that is, when set on strong soil, 

 such as T have, than the Crescent, if we want fruit that is of any value. 

 Mr. H. F. Biisse. In regard to the fertilizing I would say that I 

 do not agree with Mr. Harris. I have raised them and fertilized with 

 different kinds, and I think on clay soil where the Wilson will do any- 



