Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-05-09
8mall Pfufta

capital Grange most successfully nu.bsa
forward ifs schedule of meetings and lect-
ures for the present quarter, on las, satur-
DAY evening. Mr.. w. A. Luce Of Warren.
gave an entertaining and practical talk to
the members on the culture of small frui,.
and from his trestmen, Of the .ubiec; il VA,
PLAIN that Mr.. Luce thoroughly under.,ood
what ne so Eeliimpressed upon hi. interested
listeners
In brief and well written Introduction
Mr. Luce gave history Of the strawberry
raspberry and blackberry-to which the chief
discussion of the evening was ievoted-their
botanical characteristic. and association.
FOLLOWING this be put in an earnest plea for
their culture on the home lot, in preference
to buying them. Both pleasure and profit
are TO be derived from tie Inter course. II
is satistacti IL to see the la-ciog. berrie.
grofing and to pick them fresh from the
plants Instances we're given .hosing the re-
mafAab1e results Of success. amt pratt, ia the
growing Of the straw berry on a Plat so small
As twenty by thirty feet, the yield of which
under good culture vas quite astonishing
Leaving this brief introductory portion of
his lecture, witch was written, Mr.. Luce,
plscif dozen or 50 strawberry plant, upon
the table by his side remarked, NOV let Us
have little object lesson in strawberry Gull
ture He then commended an informal,
practical and well directed conversation upon
the subject which was kept up I'LL the close
oil the meeting. 1t was evident that Mr.
Luce is a strawberry enthusiast, and that he
had well studied the plant why this
strawberry plant, said he, lis a wonderful
plant, and one of remarkable posi- oilities'-
than which trner saying was never spoken.
lie showed both the potted plants and those
taken up from his field the morning he left
home The former were started in small
two-inch pots last August, and
their roots in one complete mass filled the
pot. Tbs other also had abundance of roots.
Mr.. Luce recommended the matted row
system, rows sufficiently far apart for the /.
cuitivator to be run 10 keep the ground free
small plots the rows might be put somew hat
nearer. Spring setting is always to be rec
commended and the bed should be made over
after one crop has been taken OF In set
ting plants spread out the roots and place in
the hole in fan shape. They need good
deal of water, a liberal quantity of dressing
and mulch during the winter
Concerning varieties Mr.. Luce gave the
following as good list Belmont, Chas .
Downing, Crescent Seeding, Sharpless,
Wilson and Miners Prolific. He spoke
highly of the productiveness of the Crescent
Seeding The Sharpless was used in every
third to fifth row for the purpose of fertiliz-
lag the other varieties. Keep all runners
trimmed of aud do not let the plants bear the
first season they are set. That is to say,
keep the runners out of the ground between .
the rows, but train them into the rows on the .
matted row system.
Raspberries and blackberries should be
grown abundantly for the home use, as we'll /
as for market. They both deserve place in .
every home garden, and there is always sure
to be good demand for the surplus. The
latter bears transportation better than the .
former, the raspberry being too soft for long
carriage 10 market Eight feet is none too
far apart for the blackberry plants, and three
feet by four is about right for raspberries. /
of the former set the Snyder, of the latter
: IA. CIustar
During the course of Mr. Luces interest
ing talk numerous questions on various
points of culture were asked him by mem
bers Of the grange to all of which he an
,wered in a pleasing and practical manner.
A little was said about currants, gooseberries
aad inns, but it was evident from the lee I
turcr- r, marks that he was most at home
among The berries. AT the close of his lecture
vote Of thanks was moved by J. $. Hobbs, I.
Esq The thauks of the grange are also due
to W Z. Athrrton, Esq, of lIsllowell, who
not only inaugurated the correspondence
which led to MIR. Luce's engagement to lee /
ture, but no generously entertained Mr. |
Luce at HI, ho-pitable home during the period
ofhls visit here which hew as obliged to extend
over the Sabbath.
The members of the grange are now look
ing forward to a pleasant entertainment for
the evening of May Is, on which date there
is to be An evening of poetry and quotations
from flvorite authors" To this every mem
Der is invited to contribute.