STATE HOBTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 369 



I am one of the first to raise strawberries for the Winona market, and have 

 raised them continuously with varied success, having always found a ready home 

 market until within the last ten years, since which time many have been shipped 

 here on the Chicago & Northwestern, as well as to Minneapolis, St. Paul and 

 Stillwater. 



I plant in a rich loam with a gravelly sub-soil, and find this to be the best, thoilgh 

 they riperka little later than in a sandy soil. My farm is favorably located for irri- 

 gation, and formerly I irrigated the plants every year during the dryest season, al- 

 lowing water to flow over the bed gently until the soil was thoroughly moistened. 

 This would improve the size of the berry and extend the harvest ; but taking the 

 labor and everything into consideration I found there was no profit ia it, and have 

 discontinued it for some years. 



Have used ashes and horse manure for fertilizers, the latter being much the bet- 

 ter, the former seeming to promote the growth of the white clover, which soon 

 covers the ground; the latter, however, shelters the grubworm, which is very de- 

 structive to the plant. I have had good success by turning under a rank growth 

 of clover and, later in the season, a heavy growth of corn which had been sowed 

 broad-cast and attained a height of four or five feet, thus making a very rich soil, 

 and yielding several bounteous harvests. 



The first vaiiety of strawberry I raised was the Wilson's Albany, and have had 

 them continuously since and found them to be more profitable than any other va- 

 riety. Have tried the Jocunda, which did not do well in this soil, the berries grow- 

 ing to an enormous size, but the crop being very light. Have also tried the Charles 

 Downing, Crescent Seedling, Manchester, and many other varieties ; the Crescent 

 being a good bearer, but if not picked every alternate day the berry will become 

 soft and unfit for transportation. The Manchester are somewhat similar in these 

 respects, while they hold out well for only one or two good pickings. 



In regard to protection in the winter have tried various methods ; among which 

 have allowed the weeds to grow profusely so as to cover the plants at the time of 

 early frost, but find that this gives the weeds an early start in the following spring 

 leaving the plants weak and unproductive. Have also sown oats broadcast later in 

 the season with the same object in view and with similar results. But have found, 

 after many experiments, that if the bed be kept quite clear of weeds, that a light 

 covering of loose straw, sufficiently heavy to protect the plant from the sudden and 

 severe changes of the weather is the best. 



In regard to grapes would say, that I have from three to five acres under culti- 

 vation. I started in with the Isabella and Catawba, and later with the Concord and 

 Delaware, which have been the principal market grape. Have experimented with 

 many different varieties, having at times from twenty to twenty-five kinds, with 

 the following results : 



The Lindley blossoms profusely but berries fall off, and if the season be moist, 

 they will mildew. 



The Agawam has .a large but loose bunch, a taste disagreeable to some ; strong, 

 rank grower, ripening a little later than the Concord and subject to mildew in un- 

 favorable seasons. 



Massasoit is somewhat similar to the Lindley. 



Lady, a white grape, light bearer and ripens a little later than the Hartford 

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