Winter Meeting. 301 



The list of varieties is a long one, and growing longer each- 

 season ; but to be on safe ground, each grower had best test varie- 

 ties on his own land in a small way before planting extensively. I 

 have tried many varieties, and have yet to find a perfect one. The 

 Haverland comes as near filling the bill as any, and could I find 

 a staminate variety equally as good, I would only grow the two. 

 The Bubach, Warfield, Dunlap and Ridgeway are all good berries ; 

 Gandy is a good late berry, but not productive till the bed is several 

 years old. Planting a new bed should always be done in early 

 spring; April is the best month for planting. Before planting, 

 work the soil down to a fine, mellow condition ; plant in rows four 

 feet apart and sets plants from eighteen to twenty-four inches 

 apart in the row, using the spade to make the opening. I usually 

 have one hand to make the holes, two boys to drop the plants and 

 two hands to follow and set the plants, with roots straight down, 

 firming the dirt solid around the plants, being careful to leave the 

 crown of the plant level with the top of the ground. 



For proper pollenization or fertilizing, I usually plant two 

 rows of pistilate varieties and one row of staminate varieties; 

 sometimes plant three rows of pistilate and one row of staminate. 



Cultivation should begin right after planting, and be kept up 

 all the season till the first of October. The ground should never be 

 allowed to become baked and hard, but after each rain it should be 

 stirred and have the crust broken. Do not try to grow a crop of 

 weeds and a crop of strawberries at the same time. 



I use the twelve-tooth and five-shovel Planet Junior horse cul- 

 tivators; they are the best plows made for shallow, level cultiva- 

 tion, and that is what is necessary in cultivating strawberries. 

 For mulching I use old wheat straw, hauling it onto the ground in 

 the fall, when roads are good, and have it ready to use in Decem- 

 ber, putting it on any time when the field is either dry or frozen ; 

 use enough straw to completely cover the ground. It takes about 

 eight two-horse loads to cover an acre. This we let remain until 

 the freezing weather is all over, usually about April first ; then re- 

 move enough from plants to give them air and sunshine. Put the 

 surplus straw in between the rows to keep the weeds down, which 

 helps to hold the moisture and keeps the berries clean. Straw- 

 berries are rightly named, for they need straw in the spring as well 

 as in the winter. After removing the mulch in spring there is 

 nothing more to do except to prepare your boxes and crates and 

 get ready to harvest your crop, which is sure to follow, if you have 

 done your part timely and well. 



