578 [Assembly 



Professor Mapes could not be present to day, but was so kind 

 as to send the following notes, as the subject had been proposed 

 hj him : 



SiliAWBERRiEs. — The strawberry is a native of temperate lati- 

 tudes, and the natural strawberries of diflerent climes have dif- 

 ferent habits. All these have produced several distinct classes 

 and until a late date these classes were represented as the scarlet, 

 pine, wood and Hautbois strawberries. The name strawberry 

 probably arose from the fact that straw was placed between the 

 plants to keep the fruit clean. 



It belongs probably to colder climates, and in the warmer is of 



inferior qualities. 



To the confectioner the fruit is of gi-eat value, as it communi- 

 cates its flavor readily to all menstruums, such as milk, sugar, 

 jellies, &c. It is the most healthy of the fruits, not being sub- 

 ject to acid fermentation on the stomach, and is supposed to be a 

 specific for gout. 



Propagation and Soil. — All sorts except the Bushalpine prop- 

 agate themselves by runners which, in turn, are used to form new 

 beds and should be taken off in August and put out in place. 

 Some growers retain them until spring, keeping them in nursery 

 row until required. In the planting of new beds avoid runners 

 from old and barren plants. 



During the fruiting season the bearing plants may be marked 

 with small sticks placed in the ground so as to enable the opera- 

 tor to select plants from those so marked. Many kinds deterior- 

 ate so much by age as to become useless, while others do not lose 

 their power of bearing fruit even by very great age. Among 

 these may be named the Prolific Hautbois, the English Wood and 

 the large early Scarlet ; but the Pine strawberries and some Scar- 

 lets are very liable to deterioration. 



Soil. — The roots of this plant pass deeply into the soil, there- 

 fore the beds require deep disintegration and thorough prepara- 

 tion, with sufficient fertilizing material to last out the proposed 

 age of the bed. Trenching or deep plowing should be used. 



