AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 249 



It is immaterial whether the planting is in the fall or spring ; if in the 

 fall, a shovelfull of compost, say black dirt and manure, thrown on the 

 hill after cutting down, is all the covering they need the first winter. The 

 ground should be kept well mellowed through the season, plowing fre- 

 quently, turning the furrow from the hill, keeping the grass and weeds well 

 hoed from about the plants. In the early part of November the bushes 

 are bent down and covered lightly with earth to protect them from the 

 severe frosts of winter, and also from the effects of the March sun and 

 winds. This is done by plowing between the rows to soften the earth, 

 then bending the bushes gently down and throwing a few shovels of earth 

 on the stalks. The tops should all b.e laid in one direction, as they are 

 less liable to be broken on taking up in the following spring. Early in 

 the spring, while the ground is yet frozen, draw on and spread over the 

 whole ground thirty or forty ox-wagon loads of long manure to the acre. 

 In the early part of April, the bushes must be carefully raised with forks, 

 and the stakes (from five to six feet long), firmly driven into the center of 

 the hills, and the bushes confined to them by tying — two or three tics^, 

 according to hight of the bush, and now plow and hoe thoroughly, keeping 

 the ground mellow and free from weeds. The fruit commences ripening 

 the last of June, and is picked daily for four or five weeks. The plow 

 should be run through once or twice during the picking season, as the 

 ground, being tramped by the picker, becomes hard, and the weeds will 

 grow. As soon as the picking season is over, the stakes are taken up, and 

 the old bearing wood cut out, thus giving the young wood all the strength 

 of the roots. The ground must now be well plowed both ways, and 

 thoroughly cleaned, and so kept until the time for covering again, when 

 the surplus sprouts are taken up, and either set out or buried in the earth 

 for spring planting. 



" The usual price of the plants is $10 per thousand. 



" The baskets hold one-third of a quart, and cost $25 per thousand. 

 The picking costs from 75 cents to $1 per hundred baskets. 



"When filled, the ba'^kets are packed in boxes, holding from 50 to 150 

 baskets, and thus sent to market. 



"The yield per acre varies, according to soil and cultivation, from 0,000 

 to 10,000 baskets, and, under very favorable ciniumstances, has reached as 

 high as 15,000 baskets per acre. 



"The average price per basket in New York market in 1857 was about 

 eight cents ; in 1858, eight cents; in 1859, six and a quarter cents. This 

 is the wholesale price. 



" In preparing for eating, the flavor of the berries is much improved by 

 washing them in cold water, and allowing them to remain immersed, say 

 ten minutes, before putting on the sugar. This makes them tender and 

 plump." 



H. L. Stuart spoke of the advantages of encouraging the preparation of 

 just such papers as this in all common schools, in a short, earnest, impres- 



