38 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Secretary Knowlton spoke of the importance of setting an orchard 

 in good land. It does not pay to use rocky or hilly land, that can- 

 not be cultivated. Good orchard land in most parts of the State 

 can be had for $10 to $50 an acre. He also spoke of the individ- 

 uality of varieties of apples. Each has its own flavor, color and 

 size. Each, likewise, has its likes and dislikes of the plant food 

 within its reach. He hoped the time would come when more would 

 be known of these individual properties, so to speak, of the fruit 

 and the tree. 



SMALL FRUITS. 



Mr. Willis A. Lace, who has had a wide experience in the cul- 

 tivation of small fruits for the market on his farm la Union, spoke 

 of the profits of strawberry culture, aud then said any land that 

 would grow corn to advantage would grow strawberries to a fair 

 crop. Make the ground smooth before setting the plants, and have 

 the rows straight, four feet apart, and the plants twenty inches in 

 the row. Straight rows permit the use of the cultivator without 

 danger of tearing up the plants — and it also permits of vrorking 

 close to the plants. Spread out the roots carefully and press the 

 dirt firmly about the roots, and be careful to have the crown of the 

 plant come about the same as it grew before it was removed. Two 

 good hands will set about a thousand plants a day. Cultivate as 

 soon as the weeds start and keep it up through the season Cut off 

 the fir&t runners and do not permit the vines to bear any fruit the 

 first jear. 



He recommended the following varieties : Crescent Seedling first, 

 then Charles Dowing, Wilson, Jessie, Sbarpless, Parker Earle, 

 Manchester, Bubach. He also recommended Michel's Earl}' and 

 thought it a good variety to set with the Crescent Seedling. He 

 used swale ha}' for covering in the winter to prevent injury from 

 freezing out. Use most of the mulching between the rows and put 

 only a slight covering over the plant itself. Strawy stable manure 

 also makes a good mulch. Girls make better pickers than boys as 

 they are more careful. In maiketing use only clean boxes and 

 crates, and offer only good fruit. 



Other small fruits require about the same conditions of soil ; rasp- 

 berries shoul'd be set six feet apart, and blackberries eight, currant 

 and gooseberries in rows six feet apart and the plants three feet. 



