108 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Mr. Gale, Dr. Trimble and Mr. Doughty were appointed a com- 

 mittee to examine and report upon this invention. 



LATE STRAWBERRIES. 



Mr. Carpenter exhibited a specimen of the Austin strawberry, 

 from Watervliet, in excellent condition. It is now retailing at 

 25 cents per half-pint basket. 



Mr. Pardee said that a strawberry which would bear under 

 ordinary exposure until July 15th, was a valuable acquisition; 

 but that this might be accomplished in several ways Avithout its 

 being a test of the berry. The strawberry may be made to pro- 

 duce a late crop by giving it a stern northern exposure, by cul- 

 tivating it in the shade of trees, or in masses, or by cutting off 

 the early flowers, and in other ways. To prove the lateness of 

 the Austin strawberry, it is desirable that some other cultivators 

 should test it. 



The Chairman — I think that it is a late berry. 



Mr. Carpenter said that these strawberries were cultivated 

 upon an open level piece of ground, with no shade whatever, and 

 no care taken to prolong the season. He had found many of the 

 plants a few daj's ago, in his own garden, just blossoming a 

 second time. 



Mr, Robinson stated that it was easy to prolong the bearing 

 of any strawberry. When they are in full blossom, go over the 

 bed and give it a dressing of fine salt. It will kill every blos- 

 som. They will then re-blossom and bear two weeks later than 

 they would otherwise have done. Mr. Peabody has carried 

 strawberries to the market in Columbus, Ga., regularly for more 

 than six months in the year, from the same bed. 



Mr. Pardee. — Mr. Lawrence, of New Orleans, has carried them 

 to the Picayune office every month for ten months in succession. 



Mr. Robinson. — Mr. Peabody attributed the continuous bear- 

 ing to artificial watering. He watered them thoroughly every 

 day. 



Mr. Pardee. — Mr. Peabody told me that we might have straw- 

 berries six months in the year, as well as not. He trains his 

 plants so as to reduce their luxuriant habits. He took new pine 

 barrens, and put just enough soil with it to give it a little life, 

 and the consequence is that the leaves are no larger than a 

 quarter of a dollar, while there are berries more than three 

 inches in circumference. The same result may be produced from 

 a soil composed of three parts of pure river sand and one part 



