Proceedings of the Farmer^ Club. 215 



plants in the row, fifteen to eighteen inches. The runners are cut 

 off as frequently as necessary during the growing season, and the 

 beds or fields kept free from weeds by the use of the horse hoe. 

 It is very unusual to see such a large tract of strawberries kept in 

 as excellent order as those at Hammonton. The strawberry this 

 year, in Hammonton, as elsewhere, produced a bountiful crop, and, 

 on an ayerage, yielded one hundred bushels to the acre, the maxi- 

 mum crop being, as stated to the committee, one hundred and fifty 

 bushels. It was suggestive to notice 1,200 bushels of fine berries, 

 packed in crates, ready for transportation. In view of the good 

 old proverb that 'it is not wise to venture one's all in a single 

 ship,' the inhabitants intend in future to pursue a somewhat differ- 

 ent system, and devote more acres to the raspberry, blackberry, 

 grape and early vegetables, for all of which the soil is well adapted. 

 Asparagus and early tomatoes, for the New York market, can be 

 profitably grown in the warm sandy soil of South Jersey. From 

 the crops above named, Hammonton will realize her largest source 

 of profit; but, if desired, general farming, or growing of cereals, 

 can be successfully pursued on this class of soil. To confirm this 

 fact, the committee have abundant evidence on the farm of A. K» 

 Hay, Esq., in the vicinity of Hammonton, where they were shown 

 large fields of wiuter wheat, oats, timothy and clover, growiug on 

 land that received only ordinary care. In a district of country like 

 Hammonton, where the growing of small fruits is made a speciality,, 

 the subject of manures becomes very important. The popular 

 fallacy that small fruits will succeed best on poor soil, has long 

 since been refuted by intelligent growers. Where there are so few 

 cattle kept as at Hammonton, every available article should find 

 its way to the compost heap. Where this course is followed, every 

 farmer can well afford to use a bountiful supply of marl from the 

 inexhaustible Squankum pits. This Squankum marl is decidedly 

 superior to the 'green sand,' and has given almost universal sat- 

 isfaction when used in connection with other manures on the sandy 

 soil of South and West Jersey. Many acres in this section that, 

 fifteen years ago, were considered worthless, are now, by the above 

 means, producing large crops. The committee were glad to see 

 that the expensive system of fencing is rejected by the people of 

 Hammonton; a wise rejection, since it is well known that the fences 

 of West Jersey cost millions of dollars, and on an average have 

 to be renewed every ten years. Were the soiling of cattle uni- 

 versal, wise legislation would soon do away with all necessity for 



