The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-07-27

ries were well set, Till they were Iuu
grown, liquid manur was applied
twice a week. Covering the tops OF
pots with moss to prevent rot OF the
fruit, failed but the 8 Of cork chips
and wire screen we're both satisfactory.
Beder Wood gave better results than
any other variety, because 1t produces
an abundance of pollen. AS the at
tendant passed through each day, dur
ing the blooming period, he brushed
over the plants lightly with his coat
sleeve, which gave perfect pollenatlon.
They set 8 to IL fruits each, but all
small and imperfect ones were picked
off. Strong plants will average 8 fruits
Eight to IL pots yielded a quart OF
berries-a quart to each 2 or 3 square
feet of floor space. Allowing for walks,
this gives about 400 bushels per acre.
The pots of fruiting plants make ex
ceedingly handsome table decorations,
and for this purpose brought 81 80 to
50 so each. In larger cities, the price
of winter grown strawberries ranges
from 50 to S. per quart.
The essentials to SUCCESS with pot
grown strawberries under glass, in
winter, are thus summed up: Begin
with strong plants of an early variety
having perfect flowers, give them an
entire house so that their treatment
will not be influenced by other plants
requiring a different temperature, etc (,
grow them close to the glass, aid per-
feet pollenation, keep down fungus and
insect pests, apply liquid manure lib
orally, and protect the fruit from con-
tact with the soil.
No. 2, OF Volume 10, of Tennessee
Station bulletins, treats Of experiments
in growing lettuce in pots for Northern
markets in winter.
The seed were soWn in shallow fl ats
August goth, and when the true leaves
appeared the plants were set in 2 inch
pots which were Immediately plunged
into beds of sand on the greenhouse
benches. The first heads were ready
for market Nov. Oath.
The best method OF marketing was to
slip the balls of earth out of the pots
and set them in shallow fats of sand as
close as possible, and keep the sand
damp, but not wet. Thus displayed,
the heads keep fresh, crisp, attractive
appearar CO. For local market, the
plants may be left in pots till sold, the
pots then being gathered up by the
grower.
The advantages Of pot culture are
that the fresh, crisp condition of the
lettuce is preserved till it reaches the
table, a better price is secured the gro
ceryman may keep a constant supply,
crop may be had from the same space
every month, and the heads, especially
of the curled varieties, present an ex-
ceedingly handsome appearance on the
table.
The best close heGded variety is the
Boston Market. OF the Iooser headed
kinds, Grand Rapids being the hand
soonest.
For success in pot culture of lettuce.
plant fresh, large, plump seed; select
only the best plants; set in fine, light,
fertile soil, kept well stirred; water
early and on bright days, and give free
ventilation, and keep the temperature
al 40 to 50 degrees at night and 60 to
70 in day time. Nitrate of soda is an
excellent fertilizer. For green fly, or
Aphis, dust the under side of leaves
with tobacco dust, before setting in
permanent bed, and if they re appear
fumigate with tobacco smoke.
The bulletin states that lettuce is the
leading forcing crop Of Tennessee.
H~YBRIDIZING COTTON.
Prof. P. Il. Neil, of Alabama Station,
has been experin enting for a number
of years in crossing upland and sea
isIandcott0n, and American and foreign
cottons, with a view to the production
of improved varieties having finer,
longer, and stronger fibre, grown on
healthy, hardy, prolific plants adapted
to our soils and climate. The first re
port of progress was made in a bulletin
which we digested last year. The Sec
ond report is made in bulletin SO, just
to hand.
Several hundred hybrids were OBJ
tanned by the close of the season OF
1895, and AZ of the most successful dur
ing 1896 are discussed in this bulletin,
which is illustrated by many cuts of
the bloom, leaf, and boil Of these hy-
brids.
These experiments yer suggested
by reports that Egypt and India were