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Report on Strawberries. 



Sir. — The spring of 1893, was the most favorable for a good crop of the .strawberry 

 for many years past. No frost in the ground, the weather mild and warm, and rain 

 sufficient to make strong healthy plants ; the forerunner (weather being favorable) for a 

 fairly good yield of berries. 



The varieties that have done well here this season, are as follows : 



Woolverton. — Notable for size of berry and productiveness and long bearing with no 

 small berries. 



Saunders compares favorably with Bubach in size and productiveness. A deep red 

 color is good in this respect. I think it excels Bubach. 



Bubach still maintains its reputation as a market berry, although its quality is none 

 of the best. 



Haverland is another of those early berries that take the eye, if it is a light red ; it is 

 a good home market kind, so is Lovett, Warfield, Barton's Eclipse, Princess and Shuster's 

 (Jem. 



Some of the newer varieties have done well here and are worthy of trial among 

 strawberry men generally, and are an acquisition to the strawberry plot that will drive 

 the number of small berries now offered for sale out of the market. 



The new varieties I have fruited this season are large— Beverly — the plant is healthy, 

 making many crowns ; fruit large and good color, late in ripening, and a long time in 

 bearing, giving berries to the last of the season. 



Iowa Beauty — The berry is perfect in form and shape ; it ought to have a place in 

 every garden ; it reminds one of the old Jucunda, also Beebe, Dayton, Muskingum and 

 Regina. 



Arkansas Traveller — Tall and vigorous vines, fairly prolific, berries medium size, 

 medium to late in ripening. I can see no difference between it and Judsonia. 



Van de man — I like both plant and berry, which is a medium size, with prominent 

 golden seed, fairly prolific, flavor none of the best. I have been disappointed in it from 

 the reports of many experimental stations about it. 



I have added "several varieties to my testing plot this spring, namely : Timbrell, 

 Leader, Gen. Putnam, Ona, Oscar, Ostego, Robinson, Edward's Favorite, Chesapeake, 

 Topeka, Stewart, Californian, Cowan, Idaho, Miller's Seedling, Chou's Favorite, Oregon, 

 Everbearing. Alpine Seedling, with seven seedlings and the R. N. Yorker's great seedling 

 — the Brandywine — these eight are under restrictions. 



John Little, Granton, Ont. 



Potash for Peaches, Orchards, Gardens. 



Sir, — I am a great believer in potash for fruit trees. There may be no cure for 

 Yellows, Black-knot, etc., but there is no doubt a strong healthy tree or plant can resist 

 and throw off disease better than one run down, weak and sickly, one that has been bled to 

 death for season after season. I advise potash in any form that it can be had, but 

 for peaches, vines and small fruits I think the Muriate is best. Mr. D. Kerman, of Port 

 Dalhousie, had some Muriate of Potash this spring to test. I enclose his letter which I 

 shall be glad if you will publish for the benefit of our fruit growers. I am a great believer 

 in testing and trying experiments. I don't think Mr. Kerman regrets his outlay for his 

 experiment with potash this spring. We have such clever fruit growers in Ontario that it 

 surprises me that they don't all test for themselves the different foods that they know the 

 trees need — Nitrogen, Potash and Phosphoric Acid. Potash is very important, but to get 

 the very bent, results Phosphoric Acid is needed as well. These two things should go on in 

 the fall ; though wonderful results have resulted to Mr. Kerman after putting potash on 

 in the spring and summer. I also experimented this summer on some corn and asparagus 

 in Toronto ; the result is very marked. The corn is 12 to 18 inches higher and much 

 stronger, and the asparagus much thicker and foliage much darker than the portion 

 untreated with the potash. Nitrogen I should put on as early as possible in the spring. 

 It is only by many experiments and often failures that we get at anything like perfection. 

 I therefore strongly urge your readers to test these things for themselves. 



Alfred Boyd, Toronto. 



