St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-23
STRAWBERRIES.
The Result of Their Discnssion bD ths
Rennepin County HorticuiLtmrists.

The ResWn of Their Discmssion by the
Rennepim County Hortic,itt"rists.
The largest meeting of the season of the
| Hennepin county horticulturists was held
| yesterday afternoon, and the capacious store
room of Northrop, Braslan & Co was scarcely
sufficient for the crowd. Strawberries were
discussed at length.
In paper read by William Lyons of this
city, lie gave an experience of thirty years in
the growth and culture OF strawberries, and
suggested that the legislature be requested to
| distribute the new and desirable varieties of
strawberry plants, which are tested each
year at the state experimental farm,
| amongst the farmers Of Minnesota.
The result of this would be to stimulate an in
terest in growing fruits for the supply of
their own families at least. The paper con-
tanned many valuable points and sugges-
tions, and was received with much interest.
Mr.. G. l.. Smith, also of Minneapolis, then
read paper on the subject Of strawberries
for the farmers garden, recommending the
cultivation in hills and heavy mulching. He
recommended only those varieties perfect in
blossom, and recommended cornstalks as
best for mulchng.
President Pearce followed, with paper on
the varieties and method Of cultivation Of
strawberries, recommending the alternating
Of the stalnen and pistol varieties one-third
to two-thirds, grown in matted rows. He
highly recommended potted plants, which Is
IA strong point with him.
Mr.. Giipatrick. one Of the most successful
81,
fruited one year. and removing the old vines
when they cease bearing and the young ones
come In. By this method he has raised
large crops from the same patch for ten sue
cessive years. He claims he not only OBJ
tanned better yield from hill culture, but far
superior fruit. He sets them eighteen inches
apart between the bills and two and one-half
feet in the rows, and sets plants
in the spring as soon as weather
will permit. His experience has
been confined to small patches, but
he believed the same careful cultivation,
given large acreage, would pay proportion
ate well. He considers mulching necessary
to the well-being Of plants, muching with
cornstalks straw or like material, but pre-
fers cornstalk-
President Pearce, for new plantations,
uses ported plants entirely, as ne can get
them out early, have large plants in the fall
and obtain four times the yield next season
than he could by any other method.
1t was the sense Of the society that II the
plants were on a sandy soil they need not he
cultivated In the spring, the mulching, how
ever, TO be left upon the ground; but if on
heavy clay soil they should be cultivated he
fore blossoming. The president regarded
the best time for rnulching was In midwinter
ot, NJ tho snpU The Ynpmbera
Cured in this, with the provIso that If not
covcree with suow by the 10th Of December
they must be mulched, or the
plant will be injured by successive
freezing and thawiug. The question was
raised as to the Sdyisabillty Of using manure
for uulching. but II was decided unsafe
when wet spring followed. Best mulchiDg
IS done with, first, corn fodder; second,
marsh hay, and third, straw. II was agreed
that plants should always be selected from u
Young bed or one that bad never frulted.
President Pearce said the form and color Of
a berry were the chief considerations, and
that a berry embracing these was in
yarably a good one. Mr.. G.. L. Smith
claimed that the staIninate varieties impst
their character to the pistillates, and this i'm
portsnt fact should always b. considered in
seeking quality Of fruit.
The society recommends, for sandy soil,
one row Of Countess, or Dowuer's Prolific,
aud two rows Of the Crescent. Il was unsn-
imuusly agreed that for hcavy soil. the VIII
son, Glendale and Crescent be recon-
mended for general cultivation. One row
%: Wilson and two rows Of Glendale or
Crescent; for trial on any soil, the old Iron
clad. James Wick and tue Manchester, we'll
feTtilized, were recon amended
Raspberries and the best varieties for cul-
tivation will b. the subject Of next Satur-
days meetipg.