STATE POMOLOSICAL SOCIETY. 89 



hay may be used. The straw will be better adapted to the pur- 

 pose if run through a cutter. But whatever material is used, it 

 should cover both the plants and the ground between the rows, 

 although the plants should be covered somewhat sparingly. In 

 the spring remove the covering from the crown of the plants, leav- 

 ing the ground well covered between the rows and about the 

 plants to insure clean fruit, and also to serve as a protection from 

 drought. 



It is the commonly received opinion that strawberries should not 

 be cultivated after the fruit has set ; but we are well establised in 

 the belief that if shallow culture is given, taking precaution to 

 keep the fruit clean, such culture is highly beneficial if continued 

 nearly to the time of the turning of the fruit. The strawberry in 

 its wild state produces perfect flowers, that is, flowers possessing 

 both stamens and pistils ; but by cultivation many varieties are 

 produced that bear flowers that are imperfect. Hence, we have 

 those varieties designated as staminate (male), or pistillate (fe- 

 male), the former perfect or fruit-bearing flowers in themselves ; 

 the latter, abortive and non-productive without fertilization by the 

 pollen from the staminate plants. Ilence, understanding this sex- 

 ual character of the strawberry, it is well to have a small propor- 

 tion of the plants of the staminate variety to insure the full fertil- 

 ization of all the plants. 



Varieties to Plant. 



In regard to varieties there is a great difference of opinion. 

 Taking everything into consideration, hardiness, bearing qualities, 

 appearance and hardness of fruit, thus bearing transportation well, 

 we know of none superior to Wilson's Albany. Green Prolific is 

 good, also Hoveifs Seedling. There are many others highly 

 recommended ; of these the Col. Cheney is said to be as good if 

 not superior to Wilson's Albany ; but of the adaptedness of these 

 other varieties to our climate, we cannot speak from personal 

 knowledge. 



Perhaps we have lingered quite long enough around this straw- 

 berry bed ; let us now turn our attention to 



The Gooseberry and Currant 



plantation. If one lives somewhat remote from market, there is 

 (or perhaps we ought to say was), none of the small fruits that 

 offer better returns than this same sour gooseberry. The plants 



