AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



609 



Mr. Pardee — Otlier lime will probably do as well as oyster- 

 sliell lime. I have tried many experiments with wild strawber- 

 ries, and so far as possible, have proved by several persons of care- 

 ful judgment that some of the cultivated varieties are very supe- 

 rior to the wild berries. I do not consider any crop a good one 

 that produces less than one hundred bushels to the acre. 



Prof. Mapes thought the wild strawberries in his garden were 

 no longer the wild ones he alluded to. I am satisfied about the 

 excellence of the flavor of wild strawberries, when growing wild, 

 particularly those growing on the Catskill mountain. If the gen- 

 tleman would go to the Mountain House and eat the wild straw- 

 berries brought to the Hotel by the children, he would change his 

 views on the subject. The dining room was fragrant with the 

 perfume. 



Prof. Nash — I have eaten the best strawberries that I ever ate 

 from wild vines, and I believe great mischief has been done by 

 recommendations for high manuring. Leaf mould or swamp muck 

 is the best manure that we can use, and it will bring a greater 

 crop of strawberries than high manuring. 



Mr. West — I have heard that cold water was the best manure 

 ever used for this fruit. 



Mr. Pardee — Col. Stoddard, of Palmyra, N. Y., did succeed 

 wonderfully by liberally watering his vines upon a thin soil of 

 sandy land. His vines took the name of Stoddard's seedling Al- 

 pine ; but when moved to other gardens, where they were not 

 watered, did not succeed. In a bed, I would never have any 

 kinds nearer than a foot apart, and the large kinds must have 

 more room. All strawberry plants need much wa^er, and all are 

 benefited by tanbark water, or tanbark as a mulch. My most 

 successful growth was upon made land over an old brook. The 

 four best kinds, as far as my observation extends, is Wilson's seed- 

 ling, Hooker's seedling, Hovey's seedling, and Longworth's pro- 

 lific. Three of them are male plants, and are very productive. 



Mr. Atwood stated that green sand marl was the best fertilizer 

 for strawberries that he had ever tried, and Prof. Nash gave the 

 same opinion. 



[Am. Inst.1 39 



