274 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. S. C. Pratt's Strawberry Garden, Reading. 



Mr. Pratt having made his entry for the best Fruit Garden, the 

 Committee made their visit on the 18th of June. We found that 

 he devoted about fifteen acres to the cultivation of Strawberries, 

 and we were informed that his business is more for the sale of 

 plants than fruit. A complete system of irrigation is in use, which 

 of course is indispensable. About one ton of fertilizer is used to 

 each acre, the chemicals being obtained from a reliable source, 

 Mr. Pratt doing his own mixing, using 1,500 pounds of dissolved 

 Bone Black and 500 pounds of high-grade Sulphate of Potash, 

 costing about $22. A bed is fruited but one season, and first- 

 class fruit is obtained. Mr. Pratt says that his experience with 

 fruiting an old bed has not been satisfactory ; the berries are 

 second class and give the grower a poor reputation. 



The first fruit picked for the market was June 15, from Beder 

 Wood; the last picking was on the 10th of July, from Beverly, 

 Timbrell, and Fountain. Two acres were fruited that were grown 

 in the narrow row system, for fruit only, Beverly and Barton's 

 Eclipse yielding 20,000 baskets of first-class fruit. Mr. Pratt 

 says: "I am satisfied that with such a yield it pays to raise the 

 fruit at six cents a quart," and that he received twice that at 

 wholesale. 



J. W. Manning's Herbaceous Garden, Reading. 



On the same day the Committee enjoyed a very profitable 

 visit at the grounds of Mr. Manning, especially in looking over the 

 collection of Herbaceous Plants and some new shrubs of merit. 

 Those who are attendants at the weekly exhibitions have admired 

 and profited by the exhibits of Mr. Manning, and we desire to 

 record our satisfaction at the care bestowed upon his plants, not 

 only in cultivation but in keeping them true to name. No garden 

 is complete today without the hardy bed, for there is nothing that 

 the landscape gardener can use that will give greater satisfaction. 



Mr. Manning writes us as follows : 



Reading, Mass., Jan. 21, 1896. 

 Mr. John G. Barker, Chairman of Committee on Gardens : 



Dear Sir : — Agreeably to your request I take pleasure in 

 giving you some notes upon the Hardy Perennials and other plants 

 that your Committee viewed at the Reading Nursery last September. 



