MEDIUM TO LiATE. Bl-sexual. A most vigorous 
grower and a reliable variety; a Hero In every re- 
spect, very prolific of bright red, firm berries of good 
quality and especially fine flavor. This is another good 
variety to use as a pollenizer and it seems to do well 
on all soils; the foliage is a rich dark green with 
long leaf always looking bright and clean. The call 
tor It last year was double that of any previous sea- 
son, and we hope to see it more largely tested this 
year It has been selected five years In our breeding 
bed and we feel free to recommend it. 
they do not make so many crowns, and by in- 
creasing the number of plants the number of 
fruit buds are also increased, providing judg- 
ment is used in not allowing them to set too 
thickly. Air and sun must never be overlooked 
as they play an important part. Much atten- 
tion is given to increasing the potency of pol- 
len of this grand variety, keeping this in mind 
through its breeding with the aim both to in- 
crease and strengthen it, as past experience 
has proved that it is deficient in this respect. 
Until we get it nearer perfection in this point 
we urge growers to use Aroma every fourth 
row or some other good variety of its season, 
to furnish pollen for any bloom that might be 
lacking in this respect. Cultivation is discon- 
tinued much earlier than on the Clyde, the last 
one being given from the ist to isth of Sep- 
tember, according to the season, going deep 
enough at this time to sever a few roots which 
will check the growth of foliage and force its 
energies to forming fruit buds. This is what 
we must have to insure a big crop of berries. 
The same differences exist in all other varie- 
ties and the question of soil and location is not 
so much to be considered as in knowing their 
habits and getting them under full control. 
This is what we call scientific culture, or mak- 
ing strawberries to order." 
The above article, prepared by our Mr. F. B. Beatty 
for a fruit Journal, received the distinction of being 
quoted in the Government Experiment Station Rec- 
ords of the Department of Agriculture, Vol. xv., No. 
7, page 678, being accepted as authority. 
THE TIME TO LAYER RUNNERS. 
There is always a right time when every- 
thing should be done, and we find that the 
berry grower who is doing everything at the 
right time in the right way is the one who is 
making money. Setting the runners at the 
right time is just as important as any of the 
DOWNING'S BRIDE. 
MEDIUM TO LATE. Pistillate. We were ex- 
tremely enthusiastic over this variety last year, but 
wanted to give It at least one more year's test and 
selection before giving our final opinion. Now we 
know whereof we speak, and It Is certainly one of 
the most beautiful berries we have ever seen; so 
pretty and glossy that even a sight of it through the 
fence makes the mouth water. Almost any young 
man would give all he has for a bride as handsome 
and sweet as Downing's Bride; its value is not alone 
in its beauty, for the big berries lay in windrows 
around the plants. It has a large, broad leaf, making 
a heavy foliage, which droops over just enough to 
shade the berries from the hottest sun rays, and 
sends out long runners before forming the nodes, and 
so does not set Its plants close together, even when 
let run at will Three years under selection and re- 
striction In our breeding bed with the price so rea- 
sonable makes us safe In recommending this variety 
so highly; It was tested at our Covington, Indiana, 
trial bed with same results as here. 
Other work connected with berry growing. 
The physical condition of the mother plant 
should be considered and if any weakness is 
shown from any cause, remove the first run- 
ners; this will throw more strength to the 
mother plant and give her a chance to out- 
grow the weakness and develop power to pro- 
duce strong offsprings as it is now a settled 
fact that like begets like. All mother plants 
that have a thrifty growth will send out plants 
of the same strength and their first runners 
can be layered. One must decide what system 
is going to be followed, then layer the run- 
ners accordingly. For instance, to grow the 
single hedge system the runners should be 
layered directly in the row about seven inches 
apart; to form the double hedge, layer them 
zigzag, allowing each mother plant to make 
four sets instead of two; simply place the 
runner where you want it, then put dirt just 
back of the node; this will hold it in place and 
also retains moisture, which will greatly assist 
the forming of roots. They will penetrate the 
soil and start feeding at once, thus lessening 
the strain on the mother plant from which 
they draw nourishment until their roots are 
well fixed in the ground. It isn't necessary to 
sever their connection from the mother plant, 
as nature provides for this by the runner wire 
gradually withering away. The strawberry 
plant gets its nourishment frorn the mother 
plant by a process somewhat similar to the 
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