Sometimes our labors seem as lost 



And all our vearmngs seem in vain. 



And blessings that we pri^e the most 



Are blown in winds or dropped in rain. 



Origin of the New American Mulberry. — Many in- 

 quiries have been made by us concerning the origin of 

 the New American Mulberry, which was figured and de- 

 scribed in this magazine last October (page 577), but no 

 information has been obtained. EUwanger & Barry 

 have also made inquiries in Connecticut, whence they 

 obtained their stock many years ago of N. H. Lindley, 

 Bridgeport. The following reply to their inquiry, from 

 C. M. Minor, of Bridgeport, Conn., has been placed in 

 our hands : 



"Mr. Lindley died four years ago and his partner 

 has since died, and probably no one knows more about 

 the mulberry than myself I began selling stock for 

 Mr. Lindley in 1854, and I think that the small original 

 tree had then begun to bear. I do not know how he 

 came by it. We sold a large number of the trees and 

 they proved to be great bearers and hardier than the 

 Downing. About 1862 the original tree passed out of 

 his possession, and it has since been cut down. But 

 Mr. Lindley retained the stock, as he and all others who 

 knew the variety considered it very valuable." 



The Wilson Strawberry. — I have grown strawberries 

 for nearly ten years and have tested nearly every va- 

 riety. The Wilson has never paid expenses with me ; 

 but I have grown it every year, hoping that I could 

 make it profitable. Our soil is gravelly loam, well 

 drained and sloping to the south. The Wilson has 

 done well with some of my neighbors on soil similar to 

 ours. In 1886 a Mr. Ingersoll picked 200 36-quart 

 crates from one acre. Since then, however, with the 

 same treatment he has not been able to secure a crop 

 that would pay expenses. In the town of Scriba, near 

 Oswego City, C. H Stone last year secured f.1,050 worth 

 of fruit from acres of Wilsons. 



Previous to planting to strawberries the ground is cul- 

 tivated two years in corn and kept free from weeds. 

 The ground is heavily manured the first year of plant- 

 ing to corn ; and by the time the berries are set, this 

 manure is thoroughly incorporated with the soil. The 

 plants are set about the ist of May, in rows five feet 

 apart. They are hoed as often as is necessary to keep 

 the soil loose and free from weeds. The cultivator is 

 run through once a week, till growth stops in the fall. 

 Soon after being set, ashes, or superphosphate, are scat- 

 tered around the plants, about a handfull to the hill. 



and the appb'cation is repeated every month thrcugh" 

 out the season. Care is given not to get anv on 

 the foliage. All blossoms and runners are cut oft to 

 give greater stockiness to the plants. About the ist of 

 August the runners are allowed to grow and form a 

 matted row about three feet wide. This will leave a 

 path two feet wide between each row for the conven- 

 ience of pickers. On the approach of winter the whole 

 surface is covered with straw deep enough to hide the 

 plants. In the spring as soon as growth commences, 

 this straw is carefully raked into the paths and left 

 there till after the picking is over. After one crop is se- 

 cured, the plants are turned under and the ground sowed 

 to buckwheat or flat turnips. 



If a New York or Philadelphia commission merchant 

 is asked to name the best strawberry, he will almost in" 

 variably answer Wilson, for the reason that dealers pre- 

 fer it, and because many have lost money by planting 

 newer varieties. The Wilson is still the leading berry 

 in Oswego county, so far as acreage is concerned. The 

 Crescent crowds it closely. 



With right treatment, which means liberal manuring 

 and careful cultivation, I think the Wilson may still be 

 made to pay, as it furnishes pollen for other varieties. 

 In fact I know of no other early variety that will sur- 

 pass it for this purpose, perhaps excepting Pearl I 

 will admit that taking plants from old and diseased 

 plantations, and also careless culture, have done much 

 to hasten the result. That the Wilson has actually de- 

 teriorated may be proved by consulting anyone who 

 grew them years ago and who also grows them now. I 

 can remember how they used to grow in mv grand- 

 mother's garden fifteen years ago. A little spot about a 

 rod square produced enough berries for several fami- 

 lies For the past few years the Wilson has rusted 

 badly around here, some patches producing nothing, 

 while Crescents close by bore a full crop. Many are dis- 

 couraged, and there is a great demand for something to 

 take its place. The Bubach has been shipped to N. Y. 

 two seasons, and has proved a success so far, selling at 

 four cents per quart above Wilson and Crescent. — 

 Lawrence J. Farmer, Osivego Co., N. Y. 



Soil vs. Keeping Qualities of Fruits. — Have differ- 

 ent soils any eflect upon the keeping qualit)' of grapes 

 or other fruits ? This question brought out the follow- 



