No. 129.! 307 



The Secretary observes in the latest English papers extensive 

 advertisements of special manures for sale to farmers. They 

 looked like advertisements of wholesale druggists. 



The Chairman offered the following extract from the North- 

 ampton Gazette : 



STRAWBERRY CULTIVATION. 



" Those who know anything about the magnificent strawberries, 

 and the immense quantities of them raised on a bed about thirty 

 feet by forty feet, for several years past, in the garden formerly 

 owned by me, in King-street, may like to know the process hy 

 which I cultivate them. 



I applied about once a week, for three times, commencing when 

 the green leaves first began to start, and making the last applica- 

 tion just before the plants were in full bloom, the following 

 preparation: — Of nitrate of potash, glaubers salts, and sal soda, 

 each one pound ; ol muriate of ammonia, one quarter of a pound, 

 dissolved in thirty gallons of rain or river water. One-third was 

 applied at a time -, and when the weather was dry, I applied clear 

 soft water between times of using the preparation, as the growth 

 of the young leaves is so rapid that, unless well supplied with 

 water, the sun would scorch them. I used a common watering 

 pot, and made the application towards evening. Managed in 

 this way, there is never any necessity of digging over the bed, 

 or setting it out anew. Beds of ten years old are not only as 

 good but better than those of two or three years old. But you 

 must be sure and keep the weeds out." 



Professor Mapes. — Something has been said of the extensive 

 adulteration of guano. I have found but little of that. It is 

 not used as much as it ought to be. I have mentioned the liberal 

 course of Mr. Babney, of Virginia, in the purchase of heavy 

 amounts of it, and loaning it to neighbors. Our sugar house 

 skum is a good manure, and the cartage of it costs but little. 

 Any small farmer can do better by composting the special manures 

 than by barn-yard manure only, on account of the saving of labor 

 in cartage, &c. I have some land which I guanoed four yeaJES 



