PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 131 



opmcnt. For instance, a light, sandy soil will produce Hovey seedling 

 almost in perfection; while the same soil planted with the Wilson seedling 

 will bring but a meag-re crop of half-sized, acid berries. 



According to our calculation, if 40 by 47 feet, which is 1,880 feet, gives 

 586 quarts, an acre, wdiich contains 43,560 feet, superQcial, surface, will 

 give 15,173 quarts, or 474 bushels per acre. Fortunately this statement, 

 great as it appears, is corroborated by anothei#- Last Aveek, Mr. Nathan 

 C. Ely, Dr. Trimble and Mr. Solon Robinson were appointed a (committee 

 of this Club to visit the strawberry garden of G. K. Riker, of Stamford, 

 Connecticut. Tliey report that they visited the pleasant residence of 

 Mr. Riker, on Clark's Hill, about half a mile from the depot. We 

 found the entire strawberry patch of Mr. Riker to measure about 100 

 by 162^ feet, the largest portion being Wilson's, the only other variety 

 being the Austin; all the plants were set eighteen inches apart, and very 

 vigorous, especially the x\ustin, and the entire bed and grounds in most 

 excellent order. Your Committee never saw a strawberry bed of ^his size 

 in finer order. All tlie plants were loaded with fruit of large size, espe- 

 cially the Austin, and as the product from the Austin, and the si^.e of the 

 berry and tlie great quantity remaining seemed to your committee so extra- 

 ordinar}', they present, in this statement, a detailed account in rela- 

 tion to that variety, and also present to the Club a sample of the berries 

 taken from the baskets brought to market this day, and are a fair average. 

 The entire crop of the Austin variety was sold to Mr. Delmonico, of 14th 

 street and 5th avenue. Tour Committee, in this statement, say nothing as 

 to the relative value or desirableness of this or any variety, preferring the 

 Club to discuss and settle that matter. The exact measurement of thebed 

 of the Austin variety, or rather the patch of ground, is 37 by 162 feet, in 

 beds of three rows, each set 18 inches apart each way, with a walk of two 

 feet between. The plants, two thousand five hundred (2,500) in number, 

 were set out about the 25tli May, 1862, (the ground for several years pro 

 yious cultivated with chiefly carrots, and eacii year manured with ordinary 

 barn-yard manure.) 



On putting out the plants, or since, no fertiliser whatever has been nsed. 

 From this bed the first picking was 



June 18 154 Pint baskets. 



20 235 do. 



22 230 do. 



23 19 do. 



24 15 do. 



25 210 do. 



26 6 do. 



27 347 do. 



29 260 do. 



Nine pickings in 12 days *1477 do. 



And Mr. Rdcer estimates that there is as much fruit remaining as he has 

 picked; but that rain will be requisite to cause all to mature. 



*Seo metting of twenlj-jecond of September. 



