224 ABC OF STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 



grounds. Most of us are beginning to learn that the berry that 

 does well in one locality may not in another, even near by. 



The second one I wish to call attention to is the Empress, 

 just brought out by Matthew Crawford. I visited his plate 

 when most of the strawberries were gone, and the dry weather 

 was fast using up the late ones. The Empress, however, had a 

 magnificent growth of foliage, and green berries and ripe ones 

 were both in great abundance. When I suggested it was a late 

 berry, friend Crawford said it commenced ripening quite early, 

 on the contrary. I know the plant is a tremendously strong 

 and robust grower, because we have it on our own grounds. 

 Now, if it bears everywhere else as it does at Matthew Craw- 

 ford's place, it is certainly remarkable, because it holds out 

 " head and shoulders " above any thing else. 



The above ends our extracts from Gleanings in Bee Cul- 

 ture; but I have something to say before closing my book about 

 several matters concerning the work of the past twelve years. 

 First, in regard to 



MULCHING AND MANURING STRAWBERRIES AT ONE AND THE 

 SAME TIME SEE PAGE 205. 



Since that chapter was written I have reason to put in a 

 caution here. If all the seeds in stable manure would ger- 

 minate right off, so they could be plowed under and killed that 

 season, it would be all right ; but, unfortunately, the seeds of 

 many of our worst weeds will lie in the ground for years, and 

 keep coming, part one year, part the next, and so on. The 

 worst manure to fill the ground with noxious weeds I have ever 

 found is that from livery stables. If the manure you use were 

 made on your own premises, and you know exactly what is put 

 into the manure heap, you are all right ; or if it comes from 

 the stable or barnyard of some good thrifty farmer who does 

 not let weeds go to seed, you are all right ; but where hay, and, 

 worse still, the bedding comes from Tom, Dick, and Harry, if 

 you will excuse the slang, then a few loads of stable manure 

 may seed your land to such an extent that it will make you no 

 end of trouble for years to come. See page 155. 



