88 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ter, and very good in quality. It should not be grown in the 

 shade. Mr. Hadwen considered it perfectly hard}-, and a promis- 

 ing variety. 



Mr. Hadwen* then spoke of the strawberry, which, he said, stands 

 first on the list of small fruits, being the most acceptable berrj' to 

 ever^- one. Many varieties have had their da}', and passed awa}'. 

 In Worcester county the Charles Downing is recommended as the 

 best variet}', where only one kind can be planted. It combines 

 more virtues and has fewer defects than any other. It is produc- 

 tive, and acceptable in the family, and fair Tor the market. It 

 adapts itself to a great variety of soils and adverse circumstances. 

 The Wilson still stands first for market onh\ 



Mr. Smith remarked that in Cambridge the Charles Downing 

 succeeded on a sandy soil, but failed on cla}', and asked Mr. Had- 

 wen whether the case was the same in Worcester. 



Mr. Hadwen rephed that his soil is a stiff loam on a cla}'^ subsoil, 

 and that the Charles Downing succeeds admirabl}^ in it. 



J. 8. Martin said that the Charles Downing succeeded well in his 

 soil, which is sandy. 



Mr. Hadwen went on to speak of the best time for planting 

 strawberries, which, under ordinary circumstances, he considered 

 the spring. It is not onh^ better but cheaper to plant then. If 

 neglected in spring it ma}' be done in autumn, but if deferred until 

 that time the plants must be taken up with balls of earth, put in 

 rich ground, and watered. Market gardeners would not plant in 

 autumn, for it would cost three times as much as in spring, and the 

 risk of failure would be much greater. 



Mr. Martin had planted in autumn and found no difference in the 

 cost, and had never lost a plant. 



Mrs. H. L. T. Wolcott had planted strawberries in summer, 

 after taking off a crop of early peas. They bore well the next 

 season, and a year's time was saved by fall planting. 



The Chairman said that, owing to the greater care required, the 

 cases of fall planting must be limited to a small extent. In the 

 instance mentioned by Mrs. Wolcott, an important advantage was 

 undoubtedly gained by fall planting. 



Mr. Capen asked whether Mr. Hadwen would take up a ball of 

 earth with his strawberry plants, if he were setting out an acre. 



Mr. Hadwen did not suppose that an}' one would think of plant- 

 ino- an acre of strawberries in autumn. Besides the disadvantages 



