STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 95 



expected as large a crop the second 3'ear from his strawberry beds 

 as he did the first year. Bat the fruit is ranch larger and finer the 

 first season. This has been ver}' nearly my experience growing 

 them in Maine. During the season of 1884 we had an acre piece 

 that yielded a little better than 100 bushels. The next year it pro- 

 duced at the rate ot 84 bushels to the acre, with but little care. I 

 should not think of cultivating a bed of Wilsons the second year if 

 a large yield was given, say at the rate of 125 bushels to the acre. 

 It certainly would not pay to do it. Ttie Wilson fails after giving a 

 full crop, and does not seem to have the vitality- possessed by some 

 other sorts, like the Crescent, for instance, which has been grown 

 three years successfully. 



My plants are set about one foot or fifteen inches apart in the 

 row, and the rows three and one-half feet apart. The^' should be 

 hoed every' ten days if possible, the weeds kept down and not 

 allowed vo start. Brush, straw and meadow hay are used for cov- 

 ering the plants during the winter. Brush is preferable, as the 

 limbs do not pack close around the plants when covered by heavy 

 snows, and the ventilation is better. Straw contains many foul 

 seeds, and should be avoided if you can get an3'thing else to cover 

 with. Now as regards varieties, there are none more profitable 

 with me than the Wilson or Crescent. These are strictly market 

 berries, and although they have been grown for many years, the 

 former about thirty or more, it still holds the lead as a firm berry to 

 ship. For family use, the Wilson is inferior in quality', and there 

 are many others that are better. The Captain Jack is a very fair 

 market berr}', and one that remains in bearing a long time. Miner's 

 Great Prolific is a large, fine berry, productive, and one of the best. 

 The Windsor Chief is an excellent berry, of good size and quite 

 productive. The Sharpless is one of the largest berries grown, and 

 none will compare with it as regards size. The Big Bob is nearly 

 as large and of better flavor. The Manchf^ster is productive, but 

 in our section mildews badly. The Mount Vernon promises well, 

 and is considered by all who have tried it an excellent variety, large 

 and productive. 



Perhaps this list is long enough. The amateur hardly knows 

 what to Siclect. The best plan is to visit your neighbor's or nurse- 

 ryman's grounds in the height of the season, when the different 

 sorts can be seen in full bearing. A personal inspection will show 

 which varieties are the most desirable, whether they are to be grown 



