123 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON STRAWBERRIES 

 AND OTHER SMALL FRUITS. 



The Committee on Strawberries and other small fruits 

 regret that they can report but one entry, viz.: Straw- 

 berry crop, by J. W. Barton, Asylum Station, Danvers. 



The Committee visited the crop and were very much- 

 pleased with the appearance of it and the method of cul- 

 tivation, and award him the first premium of $10. 



Lyman S. Wilkins, Augustus Verry, Chas. P. Savory — 

 Committee. 



STATEMENT OF J. WEBB BAETON, DANVEES, OF STEAW- 

 BEEEY CEOP. 



Contrary to the usual custom, this crop was grown upon 

 an inverted sod The land is heavy and had been in grass 

 several years, but was still in good condition. 



A careful ploughing (in April, 1889) was followed by 

 a very severe wheel-harrowing. Then twenty-two bush- 

 els of ashes were spread and brushed in, and the plants 

 set out about eighteen inches apart, in rows about four 

 feet apart. The varieties were Downing and Crescent, 

 except a few experimental plants of Belmont, Sharpless, 

 and Great American. 



Soon after the plants were out witch grass began to 

 appear, and this, with other weeds made much work dur- 

 ing the summer, as the amount charged for hoeing will 

 show. In December, about 2500 pounds of meadow hay 

 were put on as covering, and in the spring this was re- 

 moved and used for bedding. It was necessary to cut out 

 the weeds in the spring and also to cut paths. 



After this one third of the bed was sprinkled with Brad- 

 ley potato manure and the remainder with the contents of 

 the hen coop. The latter contained a good deal of loam 

 put into the coop in the fall and thoroughly worked over 

 by the hens. 



