PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 289 



Willi'ntns, Fly Creek, Otsog-o county, N. Y.; Miss Mary Meatyard, East 

 Hamburg-, N. Y.; Mrs. Mary W. AVilliams, Palmyra, Wis.; Mrs. A. 

 R, S., Picture Rocks, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania ; Mrs. M. P. 

 Keuneily. Perry, Pike county, Pa.; Miss Carrie Barber, Summer Hill, 

 Cayuga county, N.Y.; Miss Anna Stuart, Dracut, Mass.; Mrs. Mary Treat, 

 Blairstown, Iowa; Mrs. S. A. Seaman, Bowmansville, N. Y. ; Rev. Samuel 

 GriswoUl, Say brook, Conn.; Mrs. S. E. Waters, Smith Mills; Mrs. Ja«e 

 Adams, Weclaunee, Winnebago county, Wis.; Miss E. C. Dixon, Canan- 

 daig'ua, Ontario county, N. Y.. Horace Thaj'cr, Blackstone, Mass.; Miss C. 

 L. Peck, Panama, N. Y. ; Mrs. Dr. Wm. Green, Marion, Wayne county, N. 

 Y.; Mrs. E. J. Ely, Leroy, N. Y.; Mrs. C. W. Craig, Black Jack, Kansas; 

 Miss Sarah L. Colby, Warner, Mcrrimac county, N. H. 



Culture of Small Fruits. 



STR.\WBERRy. 



Mr. Walter Sigarson, St. Louis, Mo., says: The success attending the 

 cultivation of this delicious fruit has been varied in the different localities 

 where it has been grown, inlluenced more or less by climate and soil, and, 

 perhaps, in a greater degree by a superior cultivation, together with the 

 judicious selection of varieties well adapted to the particular location. 

 While only a few have been eminently successful in producing fine fruit, 1 

 believe that it will be admitted that the many have failed; hence our mar- 

 kets have been poorly supplied, at least so far as my observation extends. 

 It is to be regretted that such a state of things, as I have just indicated, 

 should exist in this age of activity and enlightened progressive improve- 

 ments. We have depended, perhaps, too much on what superficial observ- 

 ers have been pleased to call our rich, inexhaustible land. Unfortunately, 

 however, both the fertility and inexhaustibility of our country has been 

 made to take the place and subserve the purpose of thorough culture, 

 titcrefore meagre crops have been the result. There is nothing intricate 

 involved in the cultivation of the fruit now under consideration. A few 

 plain, practical hints and diiv?ctions, if followed, will remove every diflS- 

 culty, and render what has proved a failure a complete success. To insure 

 large fruit, with remunerative crops, a previous preparation of the land 

 must be had commensurate with the results to be anticipated. Superficial 

 agriculture and horticulture is the bane of this country. The time has now 

 arrived when some positive improvement will or must be developed. The 

 first prerequisite for a good crop is fertile land well prepared. If the land 

 is not rich enough, then such fertilizers as are required must be added. I 

 propose to prepare one or more acres of suitable land as follows: Trench 

 three feet deep, set out healthy, well grown plants in June or September, 

 eighteen inches between the i^ows and eight inches in the rows. There 

 must be no failure; every plant must be there. The ground must be kept 

 clean and in the most complete condition until fall, so that these plants 

 will be strong and healthy. Before winter sets in the ground must be 

 mulched all over four inches deep. This mulching answers several import- 

 ant purposes, all indispensable in their several places and relations. The 

 complete protection of the plant against the rigors of our severe and 

 changeable winters is secured, and, sectmd, mulching protects the plant 

 [Am. Inst.] S 



