THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
June 24 
464 
THE HOME OF THE STRAWBERRY. 
A HOTBED OK STRAWBERRY GROWERS 
Radical Methods and Extra Results. 
[editorial correspondence.] 
A Famous Place. —Wherever straw¬ 
berries are grown, there the name of 
APPLE TENT CATERPILLARS. Fig. 185. 
See Page 463. 
Hilton, N. J., is known. There Seth 
Boyden had his home, and nearly 30 
years ago died. The locality is also 
associated with the Durands and their 
work in strawberry growing, and many 
other originators have labored here in 
later years. Numerous are the varieties 
that first saw the light in this little 
town, and one variety, the Hilton Gem, 
bears the name of the town. 
The place is in Essex County, N. J., 
about five miles west of Newark. The 
surface of the country is rolling. The 
soil is light and loamy, with clay sub¬ 
soil, well fitted for growing the straw¬ 
berry, as well as for other fruits. This, 
with some truck growing, seems to be 
the chief business of the place, though 
the strawberry holds first place. It is 
said that some grow nothing else but 
strawberries, and if these fail, they are 
left in close quarters. 
A Dry Time. —On June 13, I visited a 
number of the growers here. This should 
have been the height of the season, but 
the severe drought—no rain in a month, 
and little since March—had made things 
look serious for many. None expected 
to get more than a half crop, some pieces 
were almost a failure, and many pieces 
wouldn’t return the outlay made on 
them. Some were much discouraged, 
while others took a more hopeful view, 
and thought the extra prices received 
for what they had, would save them. 
A Strawberry King. — Most noted 
among the strawberry growers here is 
Henry Jerolaman, occupying the old 
Seth Boyden place. Nearly 30 years ago 
he started to grow strawberries here, 
and has been at it ever since. He made 
mistakes at first, but has gradually 
worked out the problem of growing 
fancy berries. As the business proved 
very profitable, others went into it, and 
orders came for plants from far and 
near. Mr. Jerolaman says that he has 
shipped plants to every State, besides to 
other countries, but has ceased to sell 
plants He says that there is no profit 
in it, even at $2 per 100, and that a good 
strawberry plant of a choice variety, 
will give more than four cents in fruit, 
if left. So he can’t afford to sell plants. 
The object here is fancy fruit, large, 
clean. Many of the berries look as 
though varnished, and are handled even 
more carefully than so many eggs would 
be Some of the methods are radically 
different from any others I have ever 
seen. The ground is rich, filled with 
stable manure, but little chemical fer¬ 
tilizer being used. It is thoroughly pre¬ 
pared, late in the season, and the plants 
set from August to November. Mr. 
Jerolaman showed me one bed of about 
one-tenth acre set in October that he 
said would yield from $100 to $150, more 
than his father sometimes made in a 
year from his entire farm. 
This late setting prevails generally 
here, August being preferred. The claim 
is made that plants set late are more 
vigorous, and have a better root growth 
to endure the Winter than Spring-Eet 
plants, and thus come out in better condi- 
tionin Spring. Neither have these late-set 
plants exhausted themselves by throw¬ 
ing out runners. Mr. Jerolaman prefers 
to set after potatoes or some crop that 
has left the ground clean and free from 
weeds, but some of the growers plow up 
the old beds and reset the same year, 
thus keeping the ground occupied by 
strawberries continuously. 
Close Setting. —Most of the growers 
practice close setting. Mr. Jerolaman 
reccmmends rows not closer than two 
feet 10 inches for field culture, and two 
feet six inches for garden culture, with 
plants G to 10 inches apart in the row. 
Some are set in single rows, but many 
in double rows. By the latter method, 
a line is stretched, and a row set on each 
side so that the plants are about a foot 
apart. These will stool out and make a 
row about 1% foot wide. Some of these 
rows were loaded with'the finest of fruit, 
the ground being not only literally cov¬ 
ered, but piled up with the berries. Mr. 
water. This method of protection is in¬ 
expensive, and well worthy a trial by 
others. F. h. y. 
(To be continued.) 
THE COLUMBIAN RASPBERRY. 
ITS VALUE IN THE MARKET. 
How are the Shaffer and Columbian raspber¬ 
ries regarded by fruit growers in western New 
York 1 Many of our readers complain that re¬ 
tail customers do not like the color of these 
fruits, but we have found that when people 
really understand how good they are, there is 
very little difficulty in disposing of them. Have 
you found that they sell fairly well in the local 
markets ? How do they rank as canning or 
preserving raspberries ? Do you consider them 
profitable varieties to grow as compared with 
other red raspberries and blackcaps ? 
Cuthbert Leads. —They do not sell so 
well as brighter berries. Prices last 
year were about five or six cents for 
Columbian, and eight or nine for Cuth¬ 
bert. We think they are fully equal to 
Cuthbert for canning. Until they be¬ 
come better known by the consumers, I 
do not consider this variety as profit¬ 
able as Cuthbert. I. p. 
Oswego County, N Y. 
Outsells Blackcaps. —I have not had 
any experience with the Columbian, but 
the Shaffer, where known, will outsell 
the blackcaps from the wagon. We 
deem this the best berry grown, for can¬ 
ning and preserving ; it is a profitable 
berry to grow for home use or home 
market, but rather soft, and a poor color 
for shipping. Shaffer outyields either 
black or red, I believe. s A. h. 
Monroe County, N. Y. 
Purple Berries Popular. —The Shaf¬ 
fer raspberry has long been grown in 
this section, and has been extensively 
used by our local canning establish¬ 
ment. Within the last five years the 
Columbian has been introduced, and is 
proving a strong rival for the Shaffer 
with us. It is more hardy, the berry is 
firmer, and hangs longer on the bush. 
The quality of firmness makes it more 
desirable for table use and canning. It 
is somewhat questioned by some of our 
growers whether a plantation of Colum¬ 
bian will last as long as Shaffer without 
renewal. More experience is needed to 
decide this question. While these ber¬ 
ries have not the exact red raspberry 
flavor they are very desirable for can¬ 
ning and table use. These purple ber¬ 
ries are so much larger producers than 
the red varieties, for which they are a 
very good substitute, that they must in¬ 
crease in popularity. The purple vari¬ 
eties of raspberries are not so large pro¬ 
ducers as the best sorts of black, but 
command a little better price in market. 
Wayne County, N. Y. c. w. s. 
COCOON OF FOREST TENT CATERPILLARS. 
Fig. 186. See Page 463. 
Jerolaman pins his faith to Henry and 
Mary, the former of which he says is the 
best strawberry on earth. Both these 
originated here, and are grown 
by many of the other growers. 
Other varieties found are Bubach, 
Wm. Belt, Hilton Gem, Nonsuch, 
a local variety, and others. 
Protecting the Fruit. —Mr. 
Jerolaman had been trying a 
new experiment as a protection 
against the scorching sun. He 
bought some cheap cheesecloth 
about three-fourths yard wide, 
at a cost of about three cents a 
yard. In the rows at intervals 
of 15 or 20 feet, were set stakes 
about two feet high, and across 
the top were nailed cross-pieces 
as long as the width of the cloth. 
Then when the sun became burn¬ 
ing hot, this cloth was stretched 
over the row, being removed as 
the sun went down. While the 
plants on each side were badly 
scorched and dried, those under 
this shade were as fresh and 
green as any one could wish, and 
the fruit was ripening finely. 
Every leaf was fresh and green, 
though the ground had had no 
Columbian is Coming. —We grew the 
Shaffer for several years, and finally 
discarded it on account of poor shipping 
qualities, as the life of the berries was 
usually limited to about 12 hours after 
picking. The Columbian we do not 
FAMILY OF FOREST TENT CATERPILLARS. 
Fig. 187. See Page 463. 
know much about from actual exper¬ 
ience, although we have 4,000 plants 
from which we shall pick the first crop 
this year. From what we have seen of it, 
we judge that it is a much better ship¬ 
per than the Shaffer, although practi¬ 
cally of the same color. We have never 
undertaken to put it into our markets, 
but expect to this year, and expect to 
run up against a prejudice against it, 
on account of the color being similar to 
the Shaffer. Our customers do not take 
kindly to the Shaffer, although when it 
can be delivered in good condition, it is 
of fine flavor. The canning factories 
raise objection both to the Shaffer and 
Columbian on account of their color, 
and are turning their attention more 
and more to the Cuthbert. We think 
the Columbian and Shaffer both will 
outyield the Cuthbert with the same 
treatment. b. j c. 
Wayne County, N. Y. 
Sandusky, Ohio, June 5, 1899. 
Recent newspaper reports have con¬ 
nected the name of this Company with 
the combination of fertilizer manufac¬ 
turers just formed under the name of 
The American Agricultural Chemical 
Company. We take this method of 
announcing that all such reports are 
untrue, we having no connection with 
the combination whatever, and will 
continue to operate independently as 
heretofore. Respectfully, 
THE JARECKI CHEMICAL CO. 
Per Gustav Jarecki Jr , Sec’y. 
Pedigree Strawberries 
Recommended to all strawberry growers by Rural 
New-Yorkkk March 11, ’99, and praised by It July 17, 
’97. and July 1(1, ’98. Weotler JOE,CARRIE SILVERS, 
STELLA and REBA in pot-grown plants at 25o each, 
$2 per doz.. 15 per 100; and ROBBIE and NETTIE, the 
best late strawberries yet introduced, at 25c. each, $2 
per doz., SO per 100. Plants to be all pot-grown and to 
be delivered after July 1st. Order quick; stock limited 
JOS. H. BLACK , SON & CO., Hightstown, N. J. 
NEW 
(Trade-marked.) 
MURDV PLUM and 
DIAMOND PEACH. 
AND FINEST 
FRUITS 
NEW PEACHES. 
(Copyrighted.) 
Dean’s Red, Dan Boone. 
Deaconess & St. Clair. 
THE ALBAUGH NURSERY AND ORCHARD CO., 
Phoneton, Ohio. 
100 Bismarck 
potted, for II. List free. 
T. C. KKV1TT, Athenla.N.J . 
PLANTS 
Tomato, 
Cabbage, 
Celery, 
Peppers, etc. 
Cheap in large lots. 
J. 8. LINTHICUM. Woodwardsvllle, A. A. Co., Md. 
CELERY PLANTS FOR SALE 
Leading varieties, carefully packed in baskets, 
and delivered here at Express Offices; 250 plants for 
00c.; 500 for 90c : 1,000 for 11.50. Special price on 
quantities ov. r (1,090. Cash with order. 
WOODLAND FARM, Canastota, Madison Co., N.Y. 
Celery Plants for Sale. 
Fine varieties; good roots. 
11.50 per thousand; 10,000 for 112. 
Send cash with order. 
STAR CELERY CO., - - CANASTOTA, N. Y. 
THE SHORT HAY CROP ST, 
means that you will need to raise extra forage. 
TRY JAPANESE BARNYARD MILLET 
75c. peck; $2 $ bu. WM.P. BROOKS, Amherst, Mass. 
>.VV\VWVVVV\V\\WV\VWV\W\VV\VV\v 
WONDERFUL FODDER PLANTS. 
EAST INDIAN or PEARL MILLET 
is highly endor. ed by the U. S, Department of 
Agriculture. It has no equal in growth and 
quality for green forage, and can be cut several 
times during the season. 
JAPANESE BARNYARD MILLET 
was introduced into this country by the Massa¬ 
chusetts Agricultural Experiment Station, and 
has proven an enormous yielderof the best bay 
ard fodder on all kinds of soil. 
Southern Grown GERMAN MILLET 
is far superior in quality and yield to western 
grown as usually sold. 
We will mail descriptive circular and prices 
of the above on application. We also make a 
specialty of Crimson or Scarlet Clover 
and New Velvet Bean, the great nitrogen 
gatherers. Write us about them. Address, 
JOHNSON & STOKES. Seedsmen, 
217 A 219 Market St., Philadelpnia, Pa. 
The New Potato Culture. 
This book, by E. S. Carman, editor of The Rural 
New-Yorker, Is the Standard Publication on 
The Potato. A few copies only for sale at 25c. each. 
We Sell All Agricultural Books. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, NEW York 
