248 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



FKTJIT GROWERS' SOCIETY OF WESTERN NEW YORE- 



A iiieotinu' of thi-i Sdciv'ty was lifl<l \n the Cit}' 

 of Bufi'ak), on the 27th and 2Sth days of June last. 



On account of tlie sickness of the President, IJex- 

 JA.MTN IIoDGE, of Jiutfah>, S. 11. Aixswoinii, of On- 

 tario Co., was appointed Chairman of the Session. 



The following subjects were taken np and dis- 

 cussed : 



STRAWBERRIES. 



Which are the best six varieties for market, and the best six for 

 family use, and which the best method of cultivation in each 

 case V 



E. Herendeen", of Macedon, could recomniend hut 

 one variety for market, and tliat was Wilson''s Al- 

 hany. It will ]>roduce four times as much as most 

 other sorts, and twice as much as any other. It is 

 rather acid, hut of a good flavor — one of which the 

 taste never tires. It not oul}^ produces a great 

 crop, ])ut uniformly large berries; those of the last 

 l)ickiug being almost as large as tlie first. Culti- 

 vates in rows, first setting plants eighteen inches 

 apart in the rows, and the rows four feet apart, and 

 allowing the runners to cover half the ground. 

 Mulch with straw or cut grass. 



Prof. CoppocK, of Butialo, did not find the "\Vd- 

 son more prolific than some others, and thought it 

 was not fit to eat, being altogether too acid. 



Mr. Moody, ofLocki)ort, said we needed earlier 

 berries than the Wilson. Jentiy Lind is early, 

 large, productive, and a fine frviit. Burr's New 

 Pine is the finest flavored of all. Petibody is a 

 good strawberry. Triomphe de Gaud bears well 

 when grown in hills, but must not be allowed to 

 run into a mass. liecommended as the best six 

 varieties, Jenny Lind, Triomphe de Gand, Hooker, 

 Trollope's Victoria, Monroe Scarlet and Wilson. 



O. L. HoAG, of 'Lockport, Avas well pleased with 

 "Wilson and tiie Pyramidal Chilian. Hooker, as a 

 family berry, never was excelled, although rather 

 tender. Pyramidal Chilian next to this, alnK)st 

 as productive as Wilson. Wilson is of fair quality 

 when fully ripe. Never cultivated except to de- 

 stroy the weeds, as deep stirring of the soil near 

 the roots is apt to injure them, and injure the crops. 



Mr. Glen, of Rochester, said he "planted Crim- 

 son Cone upon a space of 16 square rods, (one tenth 

 of an acre,) and the second year picked eleven hun- 

 dred quarts of berries. They had continued bear- 

 ing wefl, and now this fifth year, liad already yield- 

 ed over one thousand quarts. Wils(ni*s Albany is 

 an enormous bearer the first year, but afterwards 

 diminishes very much in productiveness. The Large 

 Early Scarlet will bear as many quarts as Wilson's 

 Albany, and comes first into market, when the 

 price is high, the demand great, and the sales easy, 

 while Wilson's ripens mainly in the glut of the 

 market. Triomphe de Gand is very productive 

 and very fine. Hooker is perhaps somewljat tender 

 in open winters or exposed situations, but it is of 

 unsuri)assed high flavor. Crimson Cone is very 

 fine and go<Kl for preserving. When planted in 

 hills mulcliing is necessary." 



James Viok, of Rochester, coincided with Mr. 

 Gi.EN as to the productiveness of the Crimson Cone. 

 A few years since this was almost the only variety 

 grow^n for the New York market, and several grow- 

 ers in Jersey bad informed him that it was the only 



variety from which they could make money. He 

 believed they were now growing other ^-arieties to 

 some extent. Mr. \. also called attention to the 

 advantage of growing strawberries in hills, stating 

 that a plant, if kept sliorn of its runners, would be- 

 come very large by side shoots from the crown, and 

 would throw up twenty or thirty fruit stalks, bear- 

 ing eight or ten good berries each, thus giving a 

 couple of liundred to each plant. 



Mr. Glex had grown strawberries in this way, 

 and had counted thirty clusters of fruit from a 

 single plant, but did not think this the most profit- 

 able mode of culture. 



Prof. CoppocK said there were some advantages 

 and some disadvantages in the hill system. The 

 principal disadvantage was, that where a portion of 

 the plants is killed by tiie frost, it makes a grt^t va- 

 cancy, while if grown in a mass it would not be ^ 

 noticed. 



C. L. HoAG said the Hooker was very productive 

 when grown in hills. Had seen it give as large a 

 crop as Wilson's Albany. The Pyramidal Ciiiliau 

 is the hardiest of all varieties. 



Chas. Dowxixg, of Newburgh, being asked to 

 express his opinion on the question, saiil he regard- 

 ed Wilson's Albany as the most productive variety, 

 but had a great dislike to its flavor, and would not 

 grow it. Jenny Lind is a line early sort. Tri- 

 omphe de (land was his favorite. Trollope's Victo- 

 ria was of good (luality, but not productive. Hook- 

 er is a superior berry but not productive enough to 

 satisfy the demands of some. Scott's Seedling is a 

 fair bearer, but of poor flavor. AYas cultivating a 

 nev/ variety from Canada called Ladies Pine, iu 

 flavor like Burr's Now Pitie, and moderately pro- 

 ductive. 



ilr. Beadxe, of Canada, knew nothing about cul- 

 tivating for nnirket, and could only give is ex])eri- 

 ence in growing for family use. His preferences 

 were the Large Early Scarlet, llovey's Seedling, 

 which does well and gives ;i few large berries on 

 each truss, tiie root being of moderate size. Burr's 

 New Pine, the best straw^jerry, and tolerably pro- 

 ductive. The rival of it in flavor is Triom[)he de 

 Gand. Hooker, betirs large berries and fine crops, 

 \ni\\ few small berries on the truss. Some say 

 Hooker is tender. AYith us in Canada all strawber- 

 ries are tender. When covered with leaves all are 

 safe. Wilson best for productiveness, but of poor 

 flavor. W"as testing Triomphe de Gand, and it 

 promised very favorably. Victoria looked as 

 though it would prove a shy bearer. 



Mr. Downing said the Wilson died out after pr«- 

 ducing one crop. 



Mr. Glen said this was his experience. 



Prof. CoppocK being inquired of as to the man- 

 ner and time of planting, said he planted any time 

 wlien he could obtain {dants and the soil was in 

 order. Take up the ])lants, and clip off two-thirds 

 of the tops and one-third of the roots. Then mulch 

 the roots and plant. Immediatel}' after planting, 

 tlirow two or three quarts of fresli tanbark over 

 the plant, burying it. In a little while the plant 

 Avill appear above the tan, lienlthy and vigorous. 

 Just before Avinter, gaA'e a covering of tan, as a 

 winter protection, using abtnit a peck to ten plants. 

 If plants were put out in the autumn, obtained 

 about half a crop the first season. ■ 



