Nov. 2, 1 920. ] Agricultural Gazette of N.S. W. S 1 5 



Strawberry Culture around Sydney* 



. [Continued from page 737.] 



L. GALLARD, Fruit Inspector. 



Treatment of Beds after First Year. 

 All that has been said up to tiiis point concerns chiefly matters incidental to 

 the strca wherries' first year's growth, but if the plot is well cared for it will last 

 for years. Where runners have been left on young beds with a view to sale 

 or planting out, when the plot should be worked or manured will depend a 

 good deal upon when the plants are required. When runners have been kept 

 oS with a view to an autumn crop, as soon as that crop is harvested and the 

 winter is over, attention should be directed to the clearing off'of all dead leaves 

 and rubbish that would be likely to carry over disease or insect pests to the 

 following season, and to the digging up and manuring of beds. From the 

 middle of June to the middle of July is a good time for this work. A good 

 dressing of manure should be applied, and dug in with a fork or hoe so that 

 it may rot down ready for the spring growth. Either blood and bone (10 lb. to 

 the rod), or its equivalent in farmyard manure, or, if sulphate of ammonia 

 is obtainable, a mixture of this (1 lb.) and blood and bone (8 lb.) may be used. 

 A little more of whichever fertiliser is used may be added during the growing 

 season if there is promise of a big crop, but care should always be taken not 

 to sow blood and bone or any nitrogenous manure too close to the plants in 

 summer time, and whenever such manure is used a good supply of water 

 .should be used also. Where vacancies have occurred for any reason they 

 should now be filled. 



Burning off Grass among Plants. 



When a light crop of summer grass has grown up around the plants a fire 

 may be run through them ; this destroys fungus-infected leaves, and any 

 insects which have been sheltering among them for the winter. It is also 

 generally claimed that it produces a much better colour in the berries for 

 the next season. 



Where the crop of grass is heavy it will be necessary to mow off and 

 remove part of it before attempting to burn, or the excessive heat may damage 

 the crowns of the plants. If there are patches without any grass, some of 

 the excess from other places may be sprinkled over them and fired. Care 

 should be taken not to fire where there has been a heavy coat of mulching 

 until that has been removed. In any case it is wise to choose for this work 

 a day when there is a light breeze blowing, so that the flame will pass over 

 the plot quickly. On plots on which no runners are being saved for sale, 

 , when the rubbish has been cleared away the spade or some sharp implement 

 • should be run along on either side of the alley, just level with the edge of 

 the original plants. When this is done all runners in the alley space can be 



