138 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



are pursuing that business, and I know many can draw benefit 

 from the suggestions he has made. No doubt there are 

 many who would like to ask questions. There is now an 

 opportunity. 



Mr. Cruickshanks. How many crops of strawberries 

 do you find it profitable to take from a bed ? 



Mr. Taber. Usually two. In some cases, because of the 

 weeds, particularly if white clover or sorrel comes in pretty 

 readily, it is better not to carry them over at all. There 

 would be too much labor involved to keep the bed clean. 

 While I say I cannot grow a new bed of strawberries under 

 one hundred dollars, I can carry over a bed for fifty dollars 

 that will give me generally just as good returns as I get the 

 first year. 



Mr. Cruickshanks. Do you find some berries better 

 adapted to your method of carrying over than other varieties ; 

 and, if so, what are they? 



Mr. Taber. In growing a number of varieties of course 

 I have treated them all alike, yet I have found that some 

 varieties do not do as well under that treatment as others. 

 I have not made any particular note of that point. Some 

 varieties send out so many runners that they fill the 

 ground full of roots. We cannot expect them to have the 

 life and vigor that the other plants have. I think we want 

 to avoid these varieties that fill the ground so full of roots 

 the first season. 



Mr. Cruickshanks. Don't you think giving the Marshall 

 your treatment would overcome the lack of productiveness 

 in a measure. 



Mr. Taber. I have not tried it. It is a very strong 

 grower. 



Mr. HiNES (of Taunton) . I would like to ask how this 

 Mr. Hart came to raise such a cro}) of apples this year, when 

 everybody else had them last year. Has he some scientific 

 method by which he has changed the year of bearing? 



Mr. Taber. We know that trees are in the habit of bear- 

 ing one year, and not the next. It is because they over-bear. 

 They cannot carry the large amount of fruit, and also perfect 

 fruit buds for another year. If we can divide the energy of 

 a tree so as to perfect a certain amount of fruit and leave 

 sufficient for another season, we have obtained the victory 



