No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 297 



STKAWBERRY CULTURE. 



By J. W. ALLISON, Mercer. Pa. 



From a comjDarison of the different varieties of fruits consumed, 

 from tlie amount of capital engaged in growing and the number of 

 people employed in gathering and distributing, there is no fruit 

 grown, unless it is the apple, that compares with the strawberry. 

 Indeed, it grows and is grown for market in a wider range of lati- 

 tude than even the apple. The markets are supplied with this berry 

 for at least one-half of the year. 



Where but a few years ago it was grown by a few growers near the 

 large cities, and who had superior facilities for marketing, it is now 

 grown hundreds of miles from these markets, to which it is sent, not 

 in car lots, but in train loads, and from there distributed to the sur- 

 rounding towns and villages. 



This fruit, which but a few years ago was considered a luxury, 

 and not only looked upon as such, is now considered a necessary ar- 

 ticle of food, and in its season enters into the daily consumption of 

 all classes. Having thus attained the importance it has, it becomes 

 those who are engaged in its production, to understand how' to grow 

 the best fruit most economically. 



The first requisite for success is soil in proper condition. This 

 fruit is not particular about the kind of soil, whether sandy or clay. 

 Some varieties love sand, others clay, and some are at home in either. 

 There are four essentials for success, in wiiatever soil the fruit is 

 grown: The first, is moisture when needed; the second, nitrogen to 

 give growth to vine; the third, phosphoric acid to give quality to 

 fruit; and the fourth, potash to give beauty. 



The soil must be such that all surplus water can easily escape, if 

 not by natural channels, then by artificial drains. There must also 

 be plenty of moisture in the soil at all times during the growing sea- 

 son, and more especially during the time of growing and ripening of 

 the fruit. This can be controlled by filling the soil full of humus. 

 Humus can almost always be provided in supplying the second es- 

 sential, nitrogen. The supply of nitrogen can be best obtained, and 

 in the best form, from stable manure. As stable manure does not 

 contain enough phosphoric acid and potash in proportion to the 

 amount of nitrogen there, the third and fourth essentials, must be 

 gotten from commercial fertilizers containing these elements. A 

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