and afterwards harrow across the same until the plantation presents the appearance of a newly sown wheat field. Top dress the rows with well decomposed manure, and in a short time the field of strawberry plants will look thrifty and vigorous.

In regard to the yield of strawberries per acre, it varies greatly. The fertile soil of the west will grow immense crops under high cultivation and winter protection, yet acres of this fruit are grown in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan that do not yield sixty. bushels per acre. Many plant more than they properly cultivate, set their plants late, cover lightly, or not at all; in short, neglect some vital point, and gather a poor harvest as a result. To cap the climax some do worse; sell at a loss on the spot, or send to the poorest markets in the country, and when meager returns are received, curse the fruit dealers. Somebody must be blamed, and it is such a comfort to human nature to charge disasters and misfortunes to others than ourselves.

The methods I have mentioned will result in a yield of at least one hundred bushels per acre, and possibly two hundred. Our professional gardeners, men who raise large crops of vegetables, and fully understand the great value of manure, liberally applied, grow the largest quantity in a limited area. Peter Henderson writes that he grows less than an acre, but with rows two feet apart, and plants in hills, eighteen inches distant, he so manages that he obtains from a certain variety (Boyden's No. 30) an average of one quart to a plant. I mention him as one of a class that work for great results on a small area. Others, perhaps, may have accomplished more than he. Their success ought to teach us all the importance of thorough work and constant painstaking. It is said that the publication of remarkable yields of this fruit has a tendency to mislead many in regard to the ease and cost of producing these large crops. To such it may be well to state that they are not grown on poor soil, abounding in weeds and grass, but with all the preparation of soil, care, culture, and favorable conditions, that combined produce the best results. Henderson grows each plant in a two and a half inch pot, and covers his acre with these plants; weeds are not permitted to grow there; every stage of their growth, and the development of the fruit is watched; in short, care and attention are given these plants con. tinually, till the harvest comes with its bountiful yield of fruit.

THE PANSY.

MRS. D. C. AYERS, GREEN BAY.

Read at the June Meeting, at Janesville.

We would invite attention for a few minutes to a flower seldom mentioned as worthy of special consideration, yet with many,

bearing the palm for quiet, retiring beauty; no gaudy colors deck it, for so unassumingly does it take its place that even the yellow, gayest of them, is so toned down with graver hues that it seems to apologise for being there at all. "Pansies; that's for thoughts." So did the immortal bard give to this little floweret its character; so unerringly did he read the pensive beauty of its expression; and henceforth it bears the sweet, plaintive prayer in its flowery message from lover to lover, from friend to friend, forget me not; let me be ever in thy thoughts the Floral Mizpeh.

This little flower comes to us with many names; a childish, oldfashioned one is Johnny jump up; Germans call it step-mother; Italians, mother and daughter-in-law. Florists give it botanically, "Viola Tricolor," three-colored violet; but we call it Pansy, with a tenacity to which florists have to succumb, and supply us with seeds by our favorite name, It does not require the sanction of botany to tell us that the gladly welcomed spring violet, the "Neapolitan" and "Maria Louise," with the little yellow violet of the woods, all belong to the same class. The last named is a perfect pansy in miniature. The Heart's ease is a variety also; it peeps up at us from unexpected places; as if it knew that its big sister had usurped its place, yet appealing to us by the memories of childhood's hours, speaking eloquently of by-gone days, and time passed in gardening, not as scientific as the present, but most satisfactory. Who of us cannot remember looking for the fancied resemblance to pussies' eyes, and nose and whiskers? It was a likeness devoutly to be believed in, and unmistakably there.

The Pansy proper is surely one of the most bewitching of flowers. Always something new to be looked for in the opening of the bud; no sameness; you may think you know just what it will be, but you will probably find yourself mistaken, for it may laugh like a frolicksome child, and be something entirely different, and no science can bend it to a demure observance of rules. No flower cultivated in our gardens is more worthy of notice, no sight more pleasing to the eye than a well cared for bed of pansies, which never seem to tire of rewarding that care with blossoms the finest and best. And they are not excelled in beauty by any other, when properly planted, with due regard to soil and location. We trust some few suggestions may not come amiss in regard to their culture: The soil should be very light and rich. If at all heavy, sand should be mixed with it, for Pansy roots do not love to be clogged, or retarded in their work; neither does too dry a soil please them, for they hang their heads despondingly if heat or drouth oppress. Never do they produce as good an effect as when in beds by themselves; these may be circular, square or oblong, it makes little difference; it will keep its shape well with a little care, and bloom unceasingly. Every flower should be cut off immediately on withering, for if the seeds are allowed to ripen, the work of the plant is accomplished, and it will bloom feebly

and sparingly, if at all. Many are afraid to cut these flowers, little thinking that in this way they can prolong the season of bloom, for the reason why they stop blooming so soon after the seed is formed is because perfecting that seed is the object of the plant; reproduction being the order of nature, the plant puts forth continual effort, until that effect is produced.

If you want good plants, by far the best way is to invest in a paper of fine, mixed seed. Poor seed will not repay the labor, while such as comes from our best florists are a perpetual surprise and delight, always rewarding us for our interest with some unexpected beauty. The location which seems the best is a northern one, where they obtain the heat of the sun in the morning for a short time, then have the rest of the day, and night, for the cool shade in which they delight. When the young plants have shown four leaves is a good time to transplant. Set about eight inches apart, they will soon cover the ground, and will bloom in July. The first year they should do well, but in the early summer of the second year they will show their brightest glory; when hyacinths, jonquils and other bulbs, violets and the early spring flowers have ceased blooming, while roses are tardy in their coming, then will a bed of pansies wake from their slumbers and eloquently thank you for the warm couch which has held them during the reign of frost.

If they are transplanted to a sunnier exposure in the autumn, early enough to have their roots thoroughly settled before winter, and just before snow, covered with fine leaves, if possible, if not, with straw, over which is placed the sweepings from the stable, they will live perfectly well, even in our northern clime. plants treated in this way begin to show signs of weakness in blooming, it is well to remove the longest shoots, a little at a time, until all the stems are again strong and new. We have seen them growing year after year, blooming well, although not always quite as large as at first.

Our attention was lately called to some dried Pansies, which were so fresh looking and beautiful that it seems as if all should know how to enjoy them. A box was filled for about an inch with sand, perfectly dry, the Pansies placed on the sand, face down, and sand poured over them rapidly, until entirely covered, then more Pansies, and another layer of sand, and so on until the box is full. Nothing more is needed except to keep it in a dry place. With so little trouble may any one enjoy a lovely bouquet in winter, when fresh flowers are few, and not easily obtained.

We would also suggest something about the arrangement of Pansies for the house. How often do we see them crowded into a vase with larger and coarser flowers; their peculiar shape is hidden, their fair colors dimmed, and then the remark is made that they do not look well in vases; but take a dozen varied ones, place them in a low vase, with but little green, and that fern leaves, or

something equally delicate, then lightly add sweet alyssum, candy tuft, or any delicate white flower, and see the effect; it will encourage you hereafter to look upon them as some of your choicest flowers for the parlor. A plate bouquet shows their beauty well, but is stiffer in its arrangement. Much might be added in regard to these favorites of many flower lovers, their variety and other interesting points, but time forbids. We therefore close with an urgent invitation to those who find much pure, true enjoyment in the cultivation of flowers, the one product of earth which seems as if brought from "angel's bowers," to include the Pansy in their list, assuring them that the result will be undoubted pleasure and satisfaction.

STRAWBERRY CULTURE.

C. H. GREENMAN, WAUWatosa.

Read at June Meeting at Janesville.

Horticultural exhibitions, discussions by state and local societies, together with their publications, and the notices of the press generally, have awakened much interest in fruit growing. Information in no branch is more eagerly sought after than that which pertains to the cultivation of the strawberry, the first home fruit grown, that finds its way to our tables, quickening the physical energies, bringing health to many enfeebled bodies, staying the hand of disease, filling the household with delight, and proving a godsend to many an anxious cultivator in his efforts to obtain a livelihood. No village garden or farmer's home grounds are considered complete without the delicious strawberry. Let us look at some of the simple facts in its culture and management.

SOILS. Almost any good garden soil will grow strawberries. Cold or wet situations are not adapted to their growth, nor can very large crops be obtained on light soils. Where the land is poor, manure must be used freely. On good, strong, clay loams the strawberry will thrive, and produce immense crops. It is only on such soils, or those made equally good, that the culture of strawberries can be made a steady and profitable occupation.

PLANTS.-One of the greatest drawbacks to successful strawberry culture is poor plants. No doubt the failure of many a beginner dates back to the time when he preferred to get his plants of a cheap dealer, at three or four dollars a thousand, than from one who had a good reputation, and took pride in sending out superior stock, well rooted, pruned, and bunches packed so that the tops were exposed to the light and air. In nearly every case, this cheap stock proves completely worthless; either the va

rieties are all mixed, or the plants are small and feeble, thrown carelessly into packages, without arrangement, arriving at their destination injured by heating, and often in a state of decay. I really think that good strawberry plants cannot be properly grown, dug, packed, and safely shipped, for less than eight or ten dollars per thousand. One thousand good plants, with their runners well planted, will give the grower a better stock for his bed, than three thousand obtained at cheap rates. Let beginners avoid cheap plants, undertake less, and do it more thoroughly, and the chances are that success will follow.

PLANTING..In this latitude, spring is the only favorable time for planting. The plants will then have the advantage of the early rains, get well started, grow finely and produce a good crop the following season. Fall planting is more often a failure. The plants get injured by the winter, so as to produce no fruit the next season. To secure a crop of fruit, strong, well developed buds must be formed; these are only formed on well developed plants; late runners seldom produce fruit for this reason until the second year. Farther south, fall planting is attended with better success. Varieties differ greatly in their treatment. Some do best in hills, others in beds, or rows, the runners being allowed to cover the ground. In the garden, for family use, set them in rows two feet apart and one foot apart in the rows. A bed twenty by fifty feet will supply a family very well. By planting a bed of this size, set each spring, digging up the old bed after the second crop, planting early, medium and late varieties, the family can enjoy a continual feast for nearly two months. The same space, planted in hills two feet apart each way, all the runners kept constantly cut, will produce more fruit, but requires more labor and care than most persons are willing to bestow upon them. For market, plant in rows three feet apart, and one foot apart in the rows, allowing all the runners to grow.

CULTIVATION.-In field culture, use the horse and cultivator freely the first season; allow no weeds or grass to grow. In the garden, the work must be done by hand. Take off two crops, and clean out the bed by plowing it up.

MULCHING.-Marsh hay is the best material for this purpose. Old straw will do very well. This should be applied soon after the ground freezes; cover about one inch deep, just enough to shade the plants. In spring the plants will come up through the mulching, and the fruit will be clean and marketable. This is one of the most important requisitions in the cultivation of strawberries. It prevents the plants from being injured during warm days in winter, retains the moisture in a time of drouth, often doubling the crop of fruit, and plantations that are mulched never send dirty or gritty fruit to market.

PROFITS. The profits of strawberry culture are not so great as many suppose; few cultivators get those full crops and large

9-HOR- Soc.