^6 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



most cases this is the reason, they don't use enough potash. 

 Most of our fertiHzers are weak in potash which seems to give 

 firmness and color to the fruit. 



We mulch our plants about the middle of December. There 

 is nothing I have been able to find that is better than the southern 

 cow pea vines for a cover. It protects the plant and does not 

 smother it down. When spring comes you rake the mulch off. 

 and cultivate, cultivate, just as you do for corn or potatoes, and 

 keep cultivating as that agrees with strawberries and it pays us 

 to do it. Simply keep your cultivator running up and down and 

 keep tiie upper part of the soil all loosened up. 



To sum up. In the first place get your plants right. If pos- 

 sible get them grown on light soil, then transplant to the heaviest 

 soil you can get. Use something to get that soil all filled through 

 and through with vegetable matter. Remember that the straw- 

 berry crop is a money crop. It is a big crop. Put them in in 

 continuous hills. Put them so that you can use the cultivator 

 and then cultivate and cultivate and then cultivate again. Keep 

 tiiem eternally stirred up. Use all the fertilizer you can possibly 

 afford. Dor't go and show the fertilizer bill to your wife until 

 you have got it into the ground and then don't forget to turn 

 right around when you sell the crop and get your wife every- 

 thing she has wanted for she desei-ves it more than you deserve 

 a new reaper or a new mower or any other tool. Put your fer- 

 tilizer on and cultivate, cultivate, cultivate. Put your fertilizer 

 on in the fall and earlv summer. 



DISCUSSION. 



Ques. To get the best results you would make plant produc- 

 tion a business distinct from fruit production? 



Ans. Yes, I believe that is right. Kruit production and plant 

 production are two entirely difl'erent things. One is the produc- 

 tion of leaves and the other is the production of fruit. I think 

 the two business are entirely distinct. 



Ques. Could wood ashes be used in place of muriate of 

 potash ? 



Ans. The ordinary muriate contains fifty per cent of potash. 

 Wood ashes five per cent and also about 700 pounds of lime to 

 the ton. The objection is in regard to the lime. Any quantity 



