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Hood River Strawberry Fertilizer Tests 



By Gordon G. Brown, Horticulturist, Hood River Experiment Station 



DURING the seasons 1916 to 1918, 

 inclusive, the Hood River Experi- 

 ment Station has conducted a 

 series of fertilizer tests with straw- 

 berries upon the so-called Red Shot Soil 

 at Dee. This is the character of soil 

 predominating throughout all that por- 

 tion known as the Upper Valley. Since 

 a very large percentage of the straw- 

 berry acreage of the valley is made up 

 of this type of soil and much further 

 development of the industry will be 

 made under similar soil conditions the 

 importance of first-hand information 

 regarding its fertilizer requirements is 

 apparent. Although it is recognized 

 that there are several different soil 

 types in the valley upon which this 

 crop is growing and that results from 

 these specific tests may not apply in all 

 cases it is believed they will serve as 

 a reliable guide which the grower may 

 safely follow. 



This soil has proved its splendid 

 adaptability for small fruits, especially 

 the strawberry. Plants make large and 

 vigorous growth when given good care. 

 Its natural tilth is excellent and perfect 

 drainage is afforded. Its water-holding 

 capacity is fair. Most of the acreage 

 upon which this crop is growing has 

 recently been cleared of brush and 

 stumps. It was formerly covered with 

 a dense forest of excellent timber. In 

 most cases growers have used clover 



for green manurial purposes before 

 growing other crops. Evidence is 

 abundant that the practice has been a 

 wise one in that yields of all crops, 

 especially the strawberry, have been 

 increased thereby. The prevailing prac- 

 tice is to grow strawberries between 

 orchard trees. The use of commercial 

 fertilizers has assumed considerable 

 proportions, but the practice is un- 

 standardized in that many different 

 kinds are being used, some with good 

 and others with indifferent success. 

 However, this is a fact remarkably 

 true for the United States as a whole, 

 practices varying widely. 



I have prepared a chart which shows 

 graphically the plan of these experi- 

 ments and results secured. For these 

 experiments plants bearing their first 

 crop in 1916 were chosen. They were 

 vigorous and uniform in size. In both 

 patches clover was turned under before 

 the plants were set. No other fertiliza- 

 tion was afforded these until the ex- 

 periment started. The aim was to find 

 out: Under these conditions may in- 

 creased yields be secured by the use of 

 a mineral fertilizer carrying the limit- 

 ing elements, nitrogen, phosphoric acid 

 and potash, alone or in combination. 

 Keeping in mind that shipping quality 

 is very important, since the Clark 

 Seedling is often marked at a great 

 distance, can we by such means in- 



crease size of berries consistent with 

 the necessary firmness and keeping 

 quality? What influence has such fer- 

 tilization upon the productive life of 

 the plants and incidentally upon vigor? 

 The grower will appreciate any in- 

 crease in yields since this factor is 

 undoubtedly the limiting factor under 

 local conditions. The variety is nat- 

 urally a shy bearer and often, due to 

 lack of proper management, yields are 

 so small as to make the industry un- 

 profitable. Undoubtedly the fact that 

 it possesses first-class quality, espe- 

 cially that of shipping long distances, 

 has prevented its being replaced by 

 some other variety given to greater 

 yields. 



Unfortunately we are unable to an- 

 swer the question advanced relative to 

 the number of years during which the 

 plants may by such fertilization be ex- 

 pected to bear profitably. The ravages 

 of the Root Weevil (Anthonomus sig- 

 nalus) became so severe at the end of 

 the third season that it became neces- 

 sary to plow up both patches, as was 

 also true of other experiments well 

 under way but not herein reported 

 upon. 



For these tests, nitrate of soda carry- 

 ing 16 per cent nitrogen, superphos- 

 phate testing 19 per cent phosphoric 

 acid and sulphate of potash containing 

 50 per cent potash were used. First 



