158 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



August and September, very good results can be obtained in Michigan, but if 

 drought prevails there is danger of a check to the plants, and this will result dis- 

 astrously. T^pon soil that will not suffer seriously from drought, or where wat^r 

 can be applied, the fall setting will give good results. As the season of growth 

 will be comparatively short at best, the soil should be thoroughly prepared and 

 enriched. In order to promote a rapid growth the use of a small amount of some 

 soluble fertilizer I'ich in nitrogen will be advisable. The plants should be of 

 some strong growing variety that will furnish large crowns and that are adapted 

 to hill culture, and only the strongest and best should be selected. It will be 

 advisable to use either pot plants, or to take the best runners that form, and set 

 them close together in some spot where they can be shaded and watered. If placed 

 about four inches apart each way they will develop strong roots, and when the 

 ground has been property prepared, they can be transplanted with but little check 

 to their growth. The soil in which they are started should be of such a nature 

 that they can be taken up with a ball of earth upon their roots. Unless water for 

 irrigation is at hand, the planting should be delayed until the ground has been well 

 moistened by rain, but if possible the planting should be done before the first of 

 September. Good results, however, can be secured if the plants are set out by the 

 middle of September. The rows should be from 2 to 21/0 feet apart and the plants 

 ten inches in the rows. Even though the ground has been well enriched, it will be 

 advisable to mulch the plants by spreading decomposed manure along each side of 

 the rows. Under these conditions a good growth will be secured and the plants 

 will make strong crowns before winter. The ground should be occasionally worked 

 during the fall and up to the time of freezing weather, so that It will be entirely 

 free from weeds. The ground should then be mulched, and in the spring receive 

 a shallow cultivation. It will be desirable to replace the mulch before the blossoms 

 have opened, and unless the Avinter mulch is sufficient to cover the ground so as to 

 keep down the weeds and conserve the moisture, an additional amount should be 

 employed. 



This method of strawberry culture is not recommended for the general planter, 

 but for the amateur and for the home garden, especially where the starting of a 

 new plantation was neglected in the spring, it certainly is worthy of trial. How- 

 ever, as stated in the beginning, good results should not be expected, except under 

 the most intensive cultivation and where the growth of the plants is not allowed to 

 be checked. As the plants are grown in hills, the fruit will be of large size, and 

 where an increased price can be obtained for fine fruit, the results will be satisfac- 

 tory for market purposes. 



VARIETIES. 



In selecting kinds for home use it is always desirable to include a sufficient 

 number to provide a succession throughout the season, and there Avill be less oc- 

 casion to consider firmness among the qualities to be desired than when they are 

 grown for market purposes, but even more attention should be given to the flavor. 

 While the hardiness and productiveness of the plants will always be the most im- 

 portant consideration, this characteristic even may be slightly sacrificed to pro- 

 duce varieties of high quality; regularity of form and a pleasing color will be de- 

 sirable whether the varieties are for home use or market, and while the size should 

 at least be medium, for home use, varieties that grow a large or very large sized berry 

 will bring the most money for market varieties. As a rule, the very large sorts arp 

 less regular in form and of inferior quality to the varieties that are medium sized. 



The accompanying report upon the varieties grown by this department last sea- 

 son gives lists that have been thoroughly tested in various parts of the State, and 

 will be found generally adapted to the purpose for which they are recommended. 

 Each year a large number of varieties are introduced which may have shown 

 valuable characteristics upon the grounds of the originators, but comparatively few 

 seem to be adapted to general cultivation, and for this reason we do not recommend 

 the extensive planting of new kinds. 



A few years ago the very early varieties generally brought a good price and it 

 was found profitable to place these kinds upon a warm soil in order to hasten the 

 maturity, but in recent years the sotithern berries have been brought in so freel.y 

 that the price is little, if any, higher than can be obtained later in the season, and 

 as the extremely early sorts are less productive than later kinds, their use in market 

 plantations has for the most part been given up, except in sections where the south- 

 ern berries have not found their way. Especially in the middle and northern part 



