JULY 4© 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
was partly surface-manured, and on a part of 
it the manure was plowed in. Here we can 
see the difference; the only difference in the 
manure was that the fine portion was made of 
swamp muck for bedding, and for the coarser 
part, rye straw was used for the litter. In 
one place the oats are already in head, dark 
green iu color and twice as high a3 in the other 
part; the field was treated alike as to plowing 
and sowiug and was all sowed the same day.” 
“ There is a great difference,” remarked the 
old gentleman, “but won’t you get the good 
of the manure in the next crop ?” 
“ That may be, but I doubt if the benefit will 
be equal to the present loss,” said Mr. Martin. 
•* What we need,” said I, “is to get imme¬ 
diate returns from our work. We cannot wait 
a year or six months for that., and the danger 
is. that if we do not get It at once, we may 
never see it at all. In the meantime the manure 
is idle and unproductive. Besides, if it is true 
that with the very best management we lose a 
considerable portion of the manure while it is 
piled in the yard and undergoing decomposi¬ 
tion there, it seems that we caunot avoid losing 
just as much while it is decomposing in the 
ground, unless the crop is feeding upon it. It 
is very evident that just here the oats have not 
yet reached the manure; or, at any rate, are 
as yet getting no benefit from it. Here is a 
field of orchard-grass and B clover, that was 
seeded in August last with turnips. The tur¬ 
nips were pulled in November and a portion 
of the grass was top-dressed with fine manure. 
Fred has been cutting fodder for the cows here 
since the 10th of May. and the first that was 
cut over, is ready for cutting again, in less 
thau oue mouth. The other portion of the 
field was dressed with 300 pounds per acre of 
artificial fertilizer, but, as you see, it is only 
half as good as this ; still, if it were not that 
this is much better than usual, that would have 
been thought good. 
“I consider tliis business of manuring the 
most important that we have to consider. 
There were in 1870 nearly 2,700,000 farms in 
the United States, averaging 150 acres each. 
With the rapid increase which has occurred 
since then, we may reasonably assume that 
there are now 3,000,000 farms numbering 450,- 
000,000 of acres. Of this vast surface of land, 
at least one-fourth is under Bueh a system of 
cultivation as requires it to be manured peri¬ 
odically. If an average of five loads per acre 
annually is used on this portion, there are 
nearly 000,000,000 loads of manure applied to 
the soil every year. A ton of fresh manure of 
average quality contains at least of 
Nitrogen, 10 pouudB, worth. $1 so 
Phosphoric acid, 0 pouuds, worth. 36 
Potash, IS pounds, worth. 4 S 
Total value...$2 SI 
At two dollars per ton, we have an aunual 
production of manure equal to @1,200,000,000. 
One thousand two hundred million dollars It! At 
@1 per ton, we have @600,000,000, and if it is 
not well worth considering how wo can use 
all this valuable product in the best manner, 
and so as to return us the greatest benefit from 
its use; then I don’t know that it is worth 
while to discuss any question relating to our 
business. Auy person who is acquainted with 
the averago practice of farmers, will readily 
admit that much of the value of the manure 
made is lost in the management and using of 
it. If one-fourth is lost, it amounts to more 
than the total value of all our hog products 
and nearly as much as that of our whole wheat 
crop, taking only the least estimate I have 
hero made. It is truly a subject that is well 
worth thinking and tulking about and experi¬ 
menting upon in IhoJleld. 
8. Q. LENT. 
Dunkley is a market gardener, living in 
Kalamazoo, Michigan. Everybody knows him 
there. I might call him Mr. Duukley, but I 
know he will consider it no offense if I call 
him just by the name that his fame gives him. 
We had heard that at Duukloy’s a plan of irri¬ 
gation had been adopted, which had becu 
omiuently successful in many ways, and in¬ 
spired by a desire for increased knowledge 
in matters of horticulture, we took the train 
from Grand Rapids the other morning, to 
spend the day iu search of new facts iu the 
irrigation line, at Kalamazoo. 
Perhaps it will be well to explain very briefly 
some conditions: Firstly, Kalamazoo is fifty 
miles from Grand Rapids- a two hours’ ride, 
as trains move iu Michigan. It is the largest 
village in the world, beautiful iu its embellish¬ 
ments, aud thrifty In its eutcrprlse. It is the 
center of a good fruit region, and progressive 
horticulture, in its broadest sense, is a matter 
of reasonable pride on the part of the residents. 
Secondly, by “ we ” I mean a party of five gen¬ 
tlemen, whose names have all appeared in the 
Rural columns, as connected with the Michi¬ 
gan State Pomologieal Society. This last 
compound statement I trust will be sufficient 
surety for the truthfulness of the concise state¬ 
ments which I am about to make as the joui- 
nalistic representative of tho party. 
Dunklcy’s place is a mile from the center of 
the village, and through the courtesy of a son 
of the proprietor, we were piloted about the 
place. A force of several hands were picking 
strawberries from rows of very vigorous plants, 
and, as we opened the vines iu advance of the 
pickers, a more delightful strawberry prospect, 
we all agreed, we had never seen. The varie¬ 
ties were: Monarch, Seneca Chief, and Wilson, 
and under the system of irrigation employed, 
they were just prime for market after all other 
berries from the vicinity had ripened and were 
gone, save a few insignificant boxes that could 
in no way affect the market. 
It took ns a very short time to learn the fol¬ 
lowing facts: 
1st. Under the system practiced by Dunkley, 
his berries were two weeks later than the gen¬ 
eral crop of tbe vicinity, and they were thrown 
upon the market when prices were remunera¬ 
tive. 
2d. His vines were vigorous and independent 
of rains, so that every berry that set could 
reach perfection in 6ize and flavor. 
3d. The necessity of picking every day or 
every other day for the sake of saving a few 
berries that would otherwise become over¬ 
ripe, was entirely obviated, and a picking once 
in four or five days would be very large and a 
rapid gathering at tire least possible outlay, was 
accomplishcd- 
4th. The fruit, becoming more mature with¬ 
out losing its firmness, was more luscious, and 
yet scarcely anything was lost in the charac¬ 
ter which every berry picked for market must 
have to hold its shape until sold. 
5th. The vigorous vines gave protection to 
the berries from the direct rays of our very hot 
meridian sou, which preserved even those 
which wore over-ripe from so soon losing flavor. 
We were invited to inspect the 6imple 
method of irrigation, aud while walking to tho 
fountain-head we had ample opportunity to 
view the vegetable garden, which we found in 
a most flourishing condition. The cabbages 
and tomatoes particularly attracted our at¬ 
tention. because of their forwardness. 
“How's this?" we inquired; “your method 
of irrigation puts back your strawberries but 
puts ahead your vegetables.” 
“Cabbages,” he replied, “are advanced, to 
he sure, because it is leaves wo are after, and 
our method tends to a very rapid growth of 
foliage. But with tomatoes I need to make 
this further explanation : the fruit develops in 
size very rapidly, but should wo continue to 
regularly apply our water, the ripening pro¬ 
cess would be retarded the same us with straw¬ 
berries; but ns soon as the fruit is of lair size, 
wo withhold the water, aud they ripen rapidly. 
We have found that there is a good deal of 
study conucctcd with properly and economi¬ 
cally employing irrigation iu the garden.” So 
we thought, alter witnessing this anomalous 
state of things. 
“We water,” said he, “only to supplement 
tho rain. If the season is a wet one. we em¬ 
ploy nnr artificial system little or not at fill, 
and in Rueli seasons get no profit from our in¬ 
vestments; but generally some time duriug 
the season we get a drought that shortens some 
crop, then we irrigate that crop, and have the 
advantage of our neighboring gardeners.” 
The fountain of eapply from which the 
water was taken, we found to be a spring, 
dammed up at u point which was a little 
higher than most of the garden. The water 
-wus-LonxeyeiJu_a_wxiodeiL_coiuluiL_uiade of 
two-inch plank, rendered water-tight by the 
use of coal-tar. It was, perhaps, eight inches 
wide and a foot deep. At intervals of about 
eight feet, auger holes were bored near the top 
of the conductor. The rows of vegetables and 
vines run at right-angles to the line of the con¬ 
duit, and are so arranged that each alternate 
spucc between the rows comes opposite a hole 
in the conductor. When the water is wanted 
in any particular locality, a eut-off is made 
just beyond the opening at this point, and the 
water being let on at the. fouutain-head pours 
out a nice stream and follows down the row. 
The surface of the ground has been carefully 
graded, so that the progress of a stream of 
water let on is very slow, giving plenty of 
chance for the water to settle about the roots 
of tho plants. Having once secured a place 
with the natural arrangement of a spring at 
some poiut higher thau the general surface, 
this process ot irrigation is uu inexpensive one. 
The question has been often asked me whe¬ 
ther a windmill could not be successfully em¬ 
ployed in irrigating fields of strawberries, and, 
having had no experience, I have ventured the 
opinion that a windmill might bo profitably 
employed far this purpose. But when I saw 
the amount of water actually used here to irri¬ 
gate u small gardeu, I saw that au ordinary 
Windmill would he a small affair to accomplish 
such results. Upon inquiry, I found that Mr. 
Dunkley had first tried a wluduiill and found 
it entirely Inadequate to accomplish his pur¬ 
pose. 
A word regarding the management of the 
strawberry fields at this place. After the ber¬ 
ries are removed, the ground between the rows 
Is thoroughly cultivated through the remainder 
of the season; the vines run together in matted 
rowB, and iu this condition go into winter. 
Early In spring, a good coating of long stable 
manure is given. That which has begun to 
decompose a little, or that in the making of 
which short wheat straw has been used, is 
preferred. This manure is spread evenly over 
the surface aud the vines make their way 
through it easily. 13y tho time the berries are 
ready to be picked, it is all down close to tbe 
ground between the rows. Tho covering is 
placed on in the spring to retard the blossom¬ 
ing as well as to preserve from evaporation the 
water that is employed in irrigating the rows. 
The Wilson Strawberry is talked about as a 
sour fruit fit for market, but not fit to oat. 
Dnnklcy’s Wilsons were not only fit for mar¬ 
ket, but delicious to tho taste —but they were 
ripe. A ripe Wilson is rarely found iu any 
market, aud the hue and cry about it as a poor, 
sour berry, is founded upon a misapprehension 
of facts. A luscious strawberry must have the 
acid in it, to begin with, but it must be tem¬ 
pered by a thorough riponing process. Many 
varieties far inferior to tho Wilson, rank higher 
among consumers, because in the imperfectly 
ripened Btate in which they are put upon the 
market, they are less acid. Dunkley’s Wilsons 
were as good as any Cumberland Triumphs or 
Black Defiances I ever tasted, because they 
were ripened slowly npon good soil and per¬ 
fected in flavor before being taken from the 
vines. 
After testing the quality of all the varieties 
raised at Duuklcy’s, we drove rapidly through 
the streets of tho big village, and were delight¬ 
ed with the many beautiful homes with tasty 
surroundings, that we saw everywhere, and 
could see no reason why happiness could not 
exist in nearly every family, if Dunkley could 
only raise strawberries enough to supply them 
all. 
Grand Rapids, Mich. 
STRAWBERRY NOTES FROM MICHIGAN. 
PRES. T. T. LTON. 
Tub preseut season has, in this locality', 
been more than usually favorable to the Straw¬ 
berry, (both plant and fruit,) and as the sea¬ 
son ot this fruit is now near its close, with us, 
it occurs to me that some notes respecting 
the ripening of some of the sorts, with state¬ 
ments as to their comparative success, may 
be of interest to the public. It should be un¬ 
derstood that our location is directly upon 
the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, aud that, 
for this reason, tho Strawberry, in common 
with other fruits, is about ten days later in 
ripening, with ua, than at points farther in¬ 
land. 
The dates given are those of gathering the 
first fully ripe, perfectly and uatnrally grown 
specimens, the soil being, in nearly all cases, 
a rich, warm, sandy loam. 
The season opened, on Jane 5th, with ripe 
berries of Duncan and Mexican Everbearing; 
followed on the 6th by Nicanor and America. 
On the 9ih we found ripe berries of Photo, 
Cinderella and Green Prolific ; followed on the 
10th by Russell’s Advance, Monarch of the 
West, Champlou, Black Defiauce, Capt. Jack, 
Charles Downing, Col. Cheney, Duchesse, 
Downer's Prolific,and Victoria,(Golden Queen). 
Ripe fruit of Iowa Prolific, Seneca Queen, 
Dr. Warder, Great American, Matilda and 
Wilson’s Albany, occurred on tho 11th. Ou 
the 12th came Bid well, Jucanda. Tricmphe de 
Gand, Cumberland Triumph, Cowing’s Seed¬ 
ling, Grace, French, Excelsior and Crescent. 
On the 13th, Lady Finger, Hudson’s No. 10, 
Hudson’s Early Starr, President Lincoln. Boy- 
don's No. 80, (Seth Boyden) Kissauy, and 
Ida; and on the 14th, Glendale, General Sher¬ 
man, Emperor, Afrlque, Wilding Seedling, 
Agriculturist, Damask Beauty, Major McMa¬ 
hon, Scarlet Globe. Luckhnrst, Late Prolific, 
Golden Defiance, Hooker, Shirts, and Sharp- 
less. On tho 16th ripened Kentucky, Presi¬ 
dent Wilder, and Michigan; and on the 17th, 
Star of tho West, Sterling, Springdale and 
Seneca Chief. The 18th gave us Romeyu, 
Burr Oak, Caroline, and Centennial Favorite ; 
and the 30th may bo said to have completed 
the season, with Frontenae, Marvin, Walden 
and Forest Rose. 
Of these a few, among which are Iowa Pro¬ 
lific, President Lincoln, Shirts, Sharpless. 
Contennial Favorite and Forest Rose, may 
have been delayed in ripening on account of 
the comparative feebleness, in spring, of 
plants transplanted In a severo drought in 
August and September of last year. 
Nicanor, although of fine quality, is quite 
too small except posssibly for the fastidious 
amateur. 
America is pistillate, and although we have 
always grown it alternated with others, it 
has utterly failed two years out of four. This 
season it is wonderfully productive; equal¬ 
ing the Wilson at Its best—quality excellent. 
Russell’s Advance is of excellent quality, 
and of good size; a little variable in this par¬ 
455 
ticular, and may not acquire a high position 
among so many competitors. 
Champion is greatly praised and is really 
large throughout the season, but too acid and 
hardly rich or firm enough for market. We 
distrust it also for the reason that it is pis¬ 
tillate. 
Black Defiance and Capt. Jack are both of 
fine quality and good size—tho former much 
the larger; and we regard them as promising 
market sorts. 
Col. Cheney is too weak In plant and too 
soft. 
Seneca Queen has this season proved exceed¬ 
ingly productive ; which, with fine color, large, 
even size, and fair quality, 6cems likely to 
render it a valuable market berry. Should it 
continue to do as well, it must take a high 
position. 
Great American, which failed utterly last 
year, has produced a fair crop of large berries 
this season; which are pleasant though not 
of high quality. 
Matilda we are more and more disposed to 
esteem highly as a valuable market berry. 
Bidwell, which did poorly last season, has 
more than redeemed itself. We are inclined 
to consider it as even more valuable than Mon¬ 
arch of the West; but more extended trial 
seems needful to properly establish its char¬ 
acter. 
Triumph of Cumberland has few, if any, 
superiors in its season among the very large 
varieties, as it holds its size well throughout 
the season. It is slightly wanting in color and 
also in firmness. 
Cowing's Seedling we still consider among 
the most desirable for light soils, and for local 
or house use. 
Crescent is certainly a rampant grower and 
a great bearer; but is certainly too soft for 
distant marketing. 
Starr is unusually fine in quality, but of its 
general characteristics we cannot yet speak 
confidently. 
Glendale gives ovidenee of many valuable 
qualities, but must have another year’s trial. 
General Sherman seems also to be very 
promising, but must wait. 
Major McMahon is very fine on our light 
soil, and we are at a loss to imagine why it 
has attracted so little attention. 
Golden Defiance, although rather light-col¬ 
ored, seems to possess good qualities as a late 
berry. 
Hooker is of medium size, and of exception¬ 
ally fine quality ; but its very unattractive col¬ 
or is greatly against its popularity. 
Shirts is a large, very long, conical berry, of 
exceptionally fine flavor for so large a fruit. 
It was first brought to notice last year by Eze¬ 
kiel J. Shirts of Oceana Co., Michigan. It 
may be slightly lacking in firmness, otherwise 
we regard it as very promising. 
Sharpless has produced fruit here, on plants 
set out last August. The fruit is very large, 
long, conical, regular, as growu here; and, in 
flavor, among the best of the very large fruits. 
It seems to be slightly lacking in firmness for 
a market berry ; still its size, quality and color 
are sufficient to insure its popularity. 
Star of the West is too soft, as well as un¬ 
productive. 
Sterling, although more productive thau the 
above, and of very fair quality, is yet too soft, 
and too light a cropper to meet the views of 
market growers. 
Springdale is fairly productive, and has size 
and lateness iu its favor as a market variety. 
Seneca Chief will do as a late berry, if kept 
within proper limits, and not allowed to run 
too much to wood. 
Burr Oak certainly has quality and fair size 
in its favor. Why it is shoved aside, as it 
seems to have been, we have not yet learned. 
Caroline gives indications of value or desira¬ 
bleness as a late variety. It needs further 
trial. 
Frontenae is among the very latest; its qual¬ 
ity is superior, aud it is, moreover, a rampant 
grower. Its pistillate character, we fear, will 
prove fatal to its usefulness. 
Marvin was brought to our notice last year 
when the fruitiug season was some time past. 
Plants sent us in pots last August, are uow pro¬ 
ducing a fine crop, fully one-half of which is 
now (July 1st) still immature. The fruit is of 
glossy appearance, like Triompho de Gand, 
rich and bright iu color, and of the largest 
size. Tho specimens shown at the recent ses¬ 
sion of our State Pomologieal Society (Juno 17, 
18 and 19) were sakl to be the first picking ; 
and were very large aud most of them were 
slightly coekscombed. Those grown on our 
sandy loam, with medium culture, are mostly 
free from this defect—if defect it should be 
called. The berry is firm, and we judge will 
bear transportation well. 
Forest Rose has not yet fruited sufficiently to 
establish its character, which another season 
may bo expected to develop. 
Windsor is a uow very large, bright-colored 
berry, which was shown at the recent meeting 
of our State Pomologieal Society, and is said 
to have originated in Ingham or Eaton county. 
Michigan. The fruit, though very large and 
bright-colored, came iu bad condition; and 
