AMERICAN INSTITUTE, 265 



ground will not, sometimes, produce a few very large, handsome 

 berries on the overgroAvn plants; but, on the other hand, large 

 crops are not usually produced on very highly stimulated soils, 

 and very often they prove to be an entire failure. If the ground 

 can be easily irrigated, it will assist ever-bearing plants, and save 

 the trouble of a garden engine, or watering by hand. The straw- 

 berry relishes a large amount of water, from some source. 



To sum it all up; if the object be to produce very large plants 

 and a few monstrous berries, then apply an abundance of rich 

 manures. If a large crop be wished, do not stimulate highly 

 with animal manures; but drain well, dig deep, thoroughly pul- 

 verize and apply leaf or wood mould, if needed, to put the land in 

 first rate order, suitable for good corn or potatoes. 



If ever-bearing strawberries be the object, then reduce good 

 garden soil, and water freely. 



Solon Robinson — There is a great extent of land lying at the 

 threshold of this city in wilderness as wild as the western prairies, 

 exactly suited to the successful cultivation of strawberries. I 

 allude to the center of Long Island, where land can be bought 

 very low, and, if planted in strawberries, would produce more 

 profitable crops than any wheat farm at the west. 



Mr. Pardee — There is another error that has grown out of the 

 discussion of the strawberry question at the last meeting. Mr. 

 Robinson nor myself made no assertion that this fruit should 

 always be cultivated upon the poorest soil. It requires a light, 

 quick, active soil, but not a strong one. 



Solon Robinson — I reiterate what I stated, that strawberries 

 will grow upon sand with five per cent of clay, fertilized by a 

 very slight dressing of woods' mould, without any other manure, 

 better than upon richer land. 



SUCCESSION OF CROPS. 



Dr. Wellington thought the succession of potatoes, after grass, 

 was one of the best plans he knew for the production of this 

 crop. The best potatoes we have in this market are produced 

 upon newly cleared land of Maine and Nova Scotia. My father 



