loy 



establishes the fact that Lovett's Early is a very profitable 

 variety to cultivate. 



From West Boxford, we went to Mr. Gowen's, at West 

 Newbury. Here we found that instead of being too late 

 we were actually too early to inspect the field. He had 

 but just completed his second picking, which left scarcely 

 any ripe fruit, but the vines, which were very luxuriant 

 and healthy, were heavily loaded with green berries. 



Thus the Committee were obliged to acknowledge that 

 the statements alone would decide the premium, in other 

 words we have visited some of the best crops of strawber- 

 ries ever produced in Essex County, without being able to 

 even guess which would be the premium one. The culti- 

 vation of Mr. Gowen's plot was as near perfection as is 

 often seen under the matted row system, alley ways were 

 well mulched, rows straight, and the whole field free from, 

 weeds. 



It will be noticed in his report, that in 1891 the crop 

 was strawberries ; this fact is in direct opposition to the ex 

 perience of the committee and many other growers of this 

 fruit. Althouoh the writer has been in the business over 

 thirty years, he has never succeeded with a second crop so 

 soon after a preceding one. 



As a rule the strawbeiTy takes some substance from the 

 soil, which we have not yet learned to replace, a substance 

 which requires at least six to ten years for Nature to renew. 



Mr. Gowen's crop is an exception to this rule. 



The Committee regret that the Society does not offer a 

 second premium, as is the case with root and grain crops.^ 

 In answer to the question, which variety is the'most profit- 

 able ? two of the competitors say Bubach No. 5, and that 

 of the newer varieties, the Beverly is of the best quality^ 

 and sells at the highest price. 



While at Mr. Cole's we examined his raspberries, which 

 appeared very thrifty, and promised a good crop. 



July 25th, the Committee were called to Ayers Village,. 

 Haverhill, by Mr. Haseltine, to inspect his crops of black- 



