4.6 Farmers' Institutes. 



was asked how it could be done. He answered that the husking was not taken 

 into account, but that that could be done at times in rainy and cold weather 

 when there was no other work. The cultivation of the crop should be done with 

 a cultivator and ''an old mare." Farmers have made no improvement in raising 

 corn since the time when Indian squaws did the work, except in the agricul- 

 tural implements, and they were still hilling up the corn as the squaws did. Us© 

 cultivators and hang up the hoe. 



As for ensilage Secretary Russell believed that it should be fed with grain, 

 hay, etc., but it is all nonsense to claim that ensilage alone is a sufficient food for 

 cattle. It will not take the place of any thing unless the root crops. It is not 

 as profitable a crop as corn nor as good a food for cattle in any respect. So 

 far as roots are concerned, they are about as nutritious as so much water. 



Rev. Robert Bennett of North Egremont, made a few remarks and the meet- 

 ing adjourned, being the largest one that has yet been held, and having 300 to 

 400 persons present. 



FOUKTEENTH INSTITUTE. 



The discussion at the Fourteenth Institute of the Housatonic Agricultural So- 

 ciety was opeued Friday by President Kellogg of Sheffield, who talked of that 

 part of "Horticulture," one of the subjects of the meeting, concerned with the 

 raising of strawberries. He also read a report of an address by Marshall P. 

 Wilder relative to these berries. 



A thorough review of berry and fruit raising was given by Ralph Little of 

 Sheffield, than whom no other in the south part of this county has a more in- 

 telligent understanding of the subject. Mr. Little has been noted for years as 

 a successful fruit grower and gardener, and his remarks were heard with great 

 attention and interest. When he first began to raise strawberries he said that he 

 had used barnyard manure, but it was so full of seeds of grass and weeds that it 

 was difficult to keep them from choking the life out of the strawberry plants. 

 He next used other fertilizers — ashes, lime, salt, liquid manure, etc. He always 

 saves everything that can be used as a fertilizer. The hill system of cultivating 

 the plants was tried, but it was unsatisfactory, because it left the berries more 

 exposed to birds, and when a plant died there was too much unused space until 

 another plant could be grown to take its place. Besides, they must be constantly 

 watched or they will run together. 



Mr. Little now uses the fertilizers last mentioned and cultivates the plants in 

 matted rows. The rows of old plants are cut out with a spade and, their runners 

 having been allowed to grow, there is left in the former vacant spaces between 

 them a row of new plants ready to bear fruit when the old plants are cut out. 

 This Mr. Little calls the slip-shod method, and he considers it the best way to 

 raise a good crop of strawberries with the least labor. He hoes and pulls out 

 all grass and weeds so that the beds are entirely free of them. He has a bed of 

 strawberries, renewed with plants as above described, that was started ten years 

 ago, and he expects that it Vill last at least ten years more. He cuts out old 

 plants all times of the year, except when they are bearing fruit. White grubs 



