488 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
With the present mania, we are liable to be imposed upon by 
eastern humbugs, and by some of the bugs themselves. 
There are doubtless many new varieties worthy of thorough 
trial—but like the Wilson Albany—there may be productive¬ 
ness, size and hardiness, but deficiency in quality. We should 
not yet discard the old standard sorts, at least not till we can 
surpass such as the Large Early Scarlet, Willey, Hovey’s 
Seedling, &c. I know of no better variety than the Willey 
for general cultivation. And while it is well to pay some 
attention to Staminates and Pistillates, yet the Willey, pure 
and free from other sorts, has produced fruit in abundance, 
forty rods from any staminate or hermaphrodite variety. 
Doubtless the best soil for the straw'berry may be found with 
a clayish, gravelly subsoil, with much of the sand in the surface 
loam. 
Preparation by deep trenching, working in leached ashes, 
leaf and peat mould will always pay. The plants may be set 
two feet by two, or one foot by four, cultivated in hills, rows 
or alternate strips, w T ith about equal profit for labor bestowed. 
It becomes necessary to renew the plants the second or 
third year, or fail, yet there have been instances where beds 
have been kept in good order, and yielded large fruit by an¬ 
nual mulching of clean straw to depth of four to six inches, 
leaving the same on in the spring. But lazy cultivators will 
usually be known by their fruit, if indeed they have any. 
Light mulching of clean straw must not be omitted in the fall, 
or death to new beds and less fertility to older ones will follow. 
Happy the man who can irrigate his strawberry beds at 
pleasure. Water must be had regularly during the fruiting 
season. With water at command, the high gravelly knolls of 
Rock County will, with but little fertilization, produce fine 
crops, and very early. 
Again we say to the inexperienced, go to your best cultiva¬ 
tors nearest home, and procure such kinds as they know will 
succeed. 
