FRUITS AT THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Bulletin No. 130, February, 1896. 



L. R. TAFT AND H. P. GLADDEN, 



STRAWBERRIES. 



The soil upon which the strawberries were grown is a sandy loam in which is 

 considerable clay. Some portions have much more clay than other parts of the 

 field. Under much the larger portion, at a depth of from one and a half to two 

 feet, is a heavy clay subsoil. Some parts of the field rest upon quicksand which 

 often comes within a few feet of the surface. A good application of stable manure 

 was given and the land plowed the fall before the plants were set. The summer 

 of 1894 was unfavorable for the plants to make a good growth for the fruiting 

 season of 1895. The frequent rains occurring in the early part of year gave the 

 plants a good start, but the protracted drouth of summer and fall prevented the 

 formation of runners and in many cases killed the plants first set. The field was 

 cultivated frequently during the season and was free from weeds. After freezing 

 weather came on the plants were quite heavily mulched with marsh hay. In the 

 spring this was removed from above the plants and placed between the rows. 

 This mulch was utilized to cover the plants when frost was expected. For sev- 

 eral days, after the blossoms had appeared, the plants were covered with the 

 mulch and protected from frosts.. This was removed when danger was thought 

 to be passed. An unexpected freezing came when many sorts were in full bloom, 

 and the blossoms of many varieties were almost entirely killed. A system of 

 pipes for irrigating purposes was put in last spring, but was not in shape for the 

 water until June 10. This prevented an early application which would have 

 greatly benefited the spring-set plants; however, we have a fair stand of most 

 varieties for the season of 1896. One watering was given the field when the ber- 

 ries were well formed, and another when they were just ripening. This enabled 

 those varieties which had made a fair stand of plants, and whose blossoms escaped 

 frost, to maiure a good crop of fruit. 



In the following table, many varieties which have in other seasons proved val- 

 uable are omitted because of the effects of the drouth of the previous year and of 

 the frosts of 1895. 



