78 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
We began picking June thirteenth, and we picked until July fourth 
and some until July tenth. The varieties that we have are Michaels 
Early, Wilson, Maxfield, Monarch, Crescent, Bubach, Bederwood, 
Parker Earle, Mt. Vernon and Jessie. 
To prepare the ground for strawberries it should be enriched 
previous to the year you plant so that the fertilizer shall be 
thoroughly mixed with the soil; we have the rows four feet apart. 
Our soil is'a sandy loam with clay subsoil. The ground for 
strawberries should be rich,’ ploughed deep and well pulver- 
ized, plants set firmiy, roots well spread, blossoms all cut off the 
first season and runners clipped and thorough cultivation; allow no 
weeds in the field. After picking we mow the field as close as pos- 
sible, then drag several times over and go over with forks and rakes 
and be sure that everything is stirred up and light,not anything 
* packed down; and I was instructed to set fire at about two o’clock p. 
m., as at that time we have the most wind of any time in the day, 
The last year it was extremely dry and for ten days it was a bad 
sight to look at, but then as usual the plants began to show them- 
selves and, I think,looked as thrifty as any that I have seen. We 
have a plough without a mouldboard to go out and back in the 
same row leaving the earth level, and, then we hoe as in the new 
field. By this method we kill all weeds and destroy the weed seeds. 
Raspberries—We chave the Turner, Philadelphia, Cuthburt and 
Shaffer; for black varieties, Doolittle, Mammoth Cluster and Gregg: 
We had a fair crop of plums, the Desota, Rollingstone and many 
wild varieties. 
Blackberries—The Ancient Briton. On account of the dry weath- 
er and want of care, we had alight crop; have no success with the 
Snyder. 
DISCUSSION. 
Mr. Tobey, (Wisconsin): Do you consider ashes much more 
important for berries than for corn? 
Mr. Danforth: When you are up on a high hill and put 
ashes in the rows it makes a big difference, but it makes the 
most difference in strawberries. I think ashes are worth twenty- 
five cents a bushel. 
Mr. Pearce: We find phosphoric acid, and we find about 105 
pounds of potash in a ton of ashes. There are certain things 
that produce buds and fruit, and that is often what we want; 
we often have a growth, but we have not the buds. I do not 
wish to say much on this subject, but it is an easy matter to 
grow strawberries. 
Mrs. Stager: Does it make any difference what sort of wood 
ashes are used? We have pine ashes, all that we want; are 
those of any good? 
Prof. Green: The hardwood ashes are very much more prof- 
itable; pine ashes are worth something, of course, but you can- 
