46 



while some of them may average nearly, if not quite, as large as 

 the Sharpless, yet they never show single berries equal to the 

 best of that variety. 



EXHIBITION FRUIT. 



Almost every fruit-grower is ambitious, at times, to produce 

 specimens of unusual size for exhibition, or as a present to some 

 friend. This may be done by selecting one of the large varie- 

 ties, preparing the bed with special care, manuring heavily, 

 mulching, watering frequently and freely when required, culti- 

 vating in hills, and removing all runners as soon as they appear. 

 The application of Peruvian guano or sulphate of ammonia in 

 weak solution, with potash in some form, will cause an enormous 

 growth of both foliage and fruit. Cut out all but one or two of 

 the strongest fruit stalks as soon as a selection can be made, 

 and leave only two or three of the largest berries to mature on 

 each. 



It will be prudent to protect fruit thus carefully grown with 

 a screen of mosquito cloth as soon as the berries begin to color, 

 or some pet robin, whose nest is located on a neighboring tree, 

 may not be particular in sampling your crop to select the smaller 

 specimens. It should be borne in mind that plants producing 

 their first full crop will give the largest fruit. Succeeding crops 

 will run smaller, while the fruit will mature earlier. 



ACCELERATING AND RETARDING RIPENING. 



Strawberries are classified as early, medium, and late. Of 

 course there is some difference in their season of ripening, but 

 hardly two persons, equally familiar with different sorts, will 

 agree in their classification. So much depends upon location, 

 soil, and cultivation, that a berry that would be called early by 

 one person would rank as medium with another when grown 

 under varying conditions. I am satisfied that the time of ripen- 

 ing depends more upon the circumstances named than upon the 

 variety grown. 



It is always desirable to extend the berry season as much as 

 possible, either for market or family use. This may be done in 

 various ways : First, by selecting those kinds that vary most 

 naturally ; second, by planting the early varieties on light, 



