FRUIT DEPARTMENT—Miscellaneous Fruits. 
15 
SMALL FRUIT5--Continued. 
STRAWBERRIES 
Price of strong plants, tied in bunches of 25, 
50 cents per 100, $4 per 1,000. Special 
prices for large lots. 
Cultural Directions.— The strawberry adapts itself 
to almost any soil which is not too wet or arid, but it will 
do best on a deep, rich, sandy loam. The land should be 
thoroughly prepared by being broken up with a two- 
horse turn-plow, first apply¬ 
ing from 15 to 25 two-horse 
loads of well-decomposed 
manure to the acre; a top¬ 
dressing of hardwood ashes 
(40or 50 bushels), muriate of 
potash (300 to 400 lbs.), or 
bone meal (500 lbs.), should 
be applied per acre during 
February. Avoid nitrogen¬ 
ous fertilizers just before the 
blooming period, as these 
will induce a strong vine at 
the expense of the fruit; the 
plant is also forced into a 
verv sappy growth, which 
will make it tender and, 
therefore susceptible to 
being burned out during the 
hot, dry summers. Plants 
set out after the fall rains 
will yield a fair crop of fruit 
during the following spring, but a large crop cannot be 
expected until the second year. It is undesirable to let 
the plants remain after the second year, and more profit¬ 
able to plant every year, so that one field may take the 
place as the other is plowed up. Set the plants in rows 
3x1 feet, thus oue acre will require, 14,5*20plants. For the 
•South we advise matted rows in preference to stool culti¬ 
vation, as the former is more resistant to prolonged 
droughts. After the crop is gathered keep the soil well 
stirred and always free from weeds. Remove all runners 
as fast as they appear; this will increase the size of the 
plant and also the quautity of the berries produced. We 
have tested hundreds of varieties of strawberries and 
find few that will give general satisfaction. Locality 
has a great influence upon the success of this fruit and 
therefore weeannot depend upon the same variety thriv¬ 
ing equally well in different soils and localities. 
Mulching —After a thorough working of the soil in the 
early spring, a thin covering of straw or ieaves can be 
placed around, but not over the plants. Let this mulch¬ 
ing remain during the fruiting period, then remove. 
Keep the beds well cultivated ana free from weeds during 
the balance of the year. 
How a Strawberry Should be 
Planted. 
Sex op Blossoms. —The blossoms of most varieties are 
perfect or bi-sexual, and are termed staminate , but some 
varieties, destitute of stamens, are imperfect and are 
termed pistillate. The latter are, ns a rule, the most 
productive if planted near perfect-flowering sorts; 
otherwise they will not produce fruit, Plant three rows 
of a good pistillate variety, then three rows of a perfect or 
staminate sort, etc. Hoffman, Lady Thompson, Michel 
and Tennessee Prolific are good pollenizers, but care 
must be taken to keep the runners of each variety from 
encroaching upon the others. 
Ordering Plants. We cannot fill orders for plants at 
the prices quoted until the plants are well rooted, and 
providing that the condition of soil admits of being dug 
with safety. To fill orders for plants before the last crop 
of runners is well rooted entails the loss of three plants 
where one is secured. We request our patrons not to 
have plants forwarded until the weather is sufficiently 
cool, and the soil in good order to plant with safety. 
loading market varieties in CAPITALS. 
All varieties listed below are s laminate, or with p^rVct 
blossoms, except those marked (P), which are pistillate. 
BESSIE. Large, crimson, firm; excellent flavor; 
resembles Sharpless; plant very vigorous Ripe April 25. 
BEVERLY. Large, irregular in shape; deep red, 
olors evenly; quality very good; foliage healthy; a 
fancy market sort. 
BIG HOB. Very large; deep red, somewhat irregular; 
sweet; best in rich, sandy land. An all-round good lorry ; 
Ripe May 1. 
BRANDYWINE. A very reliable late variety. Very 
productive, very large; heart shape; firm; fair quality; 
good color. In many sections this is grown in large 
quantities for shipment. 
Excelsior. Very productive; medium to large size; da:k 
red; globular form. Fine flavor. Heavy yielder. A 
promising variety. 
HOFFMAN. Large to very large; ripens earliest of ail 
berries; colors evenly and carries well; quality very good; 
very vigorous and stands the summer well. Origin. 
Charleston, S. C. Remarkably successful in the coast 
region. Can supply this variety in very large quantities. 
Matures two weeks in advance of Wilson’s Albany. Ripe 
April 15. 
LADY THOMPSON. Large; usually round; light 
scarlet; colo-s evenly, and berries are of regular size; 
firm, sweet, quality best; as early as the earliest, and a 
prolific bearer; plants strong and healthy. The most prof¬ 
itable early variety for this section. Ripe April 20. 
Marshall. Berries of regular form; dark, glossy red; 
fine flavor. A fine amateur sort. 
MAY KING. Berry medium; bright scarlet; firm; 
early; quality good. 
MICHEL. Medium, regularand globular; colors evenly, 
dark red; quality very good; very prolific, and ripens 
very early. In some sections it is the earliest of all vari¬ 
eties. Foliage healthy, plants robust. A valuable early 
variety for shipping. Ripe April 20. 
Mrs. Cleveland. Very large, regular in shape; good 
quality; plants healthy and prolific; an excellent berry 
for family use. Ripe April 30. 
NICK OHMER. Bright red; smooth, round berry; 
best quality. A desirable new sort. 
Parsons. Berry similar to Tennessee Prolific but firmer 
and a little darker in color. Strong grower. Very 
promising. 
SAMPLE (P). Of large size; good quality. An enor¬ 
mous bearer and continues to produce fruit for a long 
time. A fine variety. 
SHARPLESS. Very large, irregular; deep red* sweet, 
and of very good flavor; vigorous grower and prolific. A 
valuable market variety, as the berries are uniformly 
large. Ripe May 1. 
TENNESSEE PROLIFIC. Large; dark red; flesh red ; 
firm; berries average; even in size; quality very good; 
vigorous grower and an excellent pollenizer. 
TUBBS. Large; deep red: best quality: productive 
and healthy growth. This is considered as a rival of the 
Wilson’s Albany. Ripe May 1. 
WILSON’S ALBANY. Large, always regular; high 
flavor; subacid; prolific; vigorous grower. No variety 
combines more good qualities. In 1857 we received6 plants 
from Mr. Wilson, and our present stock is directly de 
scended from these plants. Ripe May 1. 
The Principles of Fruit*Growing. 
By L. II. Bailey, Professor of Horticulture in the Cor¬ 
nell University. 
Fifth Edition—516 pages—120 illustration*—$1.25. 
THE- PRUNING BOOK. 
A Monograph of the Pruning and 
Training of Plants as Applied to 
American Conditions. 
By L. II. Bailey, Professor of Horticulture in the 
Cornell University. 
Fourth Edition—545 pages—331 Illustrations—$1.50. 
THE NURSERY BOOK. 
A Complete Guide to the riultiplication of 
Plants. 
By L. II. Bailey, Professor of Horticulture in the Cor¬ 
nell University. 
Fifth Edition — 365 pages — 152 illustrations — $1.00. 
