THE FARM AND GARDEN. 



them will bP avoided. (Jypsmn will make the 

 berries of a lisjiiter color, but will not altect the 

 firmness. Wlion- a rapid growth of the berry Is 

 desired tlic application of a» pounds of nitrate 

 of soda per acre, before a rain, a week or two pre- 

 vious to ripening will greatly increase the size of 

 the berries, but at the expense of firmness. \ a- 

 rieties that have large leaves, like the Sliarpless 

 and Kentucky will be greatly increased in foliage 

 •and will ripen poorly, while those of moderate- 

 ' sized leaves, like the Wilson, will be benefitted by 

 It The leaves will be so increased in size that 

 tlie berries will be better shaded. The nitrate of 

 soda also is valualjle in dry weather. Plants fer- 

 tilized with it will stand dry weather better. Use 

 manure freely for great profits in berry culture. 



IRRIGATION. 



The question of irrigation is each year com- 

 manding more attention among practical straw- 

 berry growers. The great value of moisture to 

 the crop, and the uncertainty of rains at tlie 

 period of ripening, the most precarious period of 

 successful berry culture, has led to an extended 

 discussion upon the merits of irrigation as a 

 means to supply moisture in field culture. As 

 yet no experiments have taken place that will 

 fully decide if irrigation pays, by an Increased 

 yield of the crop. No one doubts the value of 

 irrigation, the cost is the only question to be 

 decided. The most successful plan so far has 

 been the laying of drain tiles a foot deep under 

 the row, before setting the plants, and when the 

 irrigation is needed filling the tiles with water 

 and allowing the water to saturate the soil. Tins 

 plan has been found to be the best of all plans, so 





Figure 6. 

 far tried. The water does not harden the soil 

 as when applied by surface walcring. W e shall 

 watch Willi interest trials that are made to test 

 the water. .\ very successful plan of irrigati<jn 

 for garden culture is that of setting near the 

 berry plants ordinary earthen fiower pots, even 

 with the soil, and on approach of dry weather 

 filling them dallj with water. Those who try It 

 will be delighted with the largest and most deli- 

 cious of berries. 



HILL CULTURE. 



f I81N » K 3 rcTT ~i 



Figure 8. 



TRANSPLANTING. 



Alwavs secure young, vigorous plants of the 

 varieties vou wish, for transplanting. Old planis 

 —those tliat have set fruit— are not good lor this 

 purjiose. Tin y may be recognized by the black 

 roots that adhere to 

 them, and if these 

 are used the old roots 

 should be broken ofl", 

 with the black stem 

 to which they are 

 attached. 



Young plants may 

 be . known by their 

 fresh-looking appear- 

 ance aiKi the mass of 

 long, white roots, 

 free from black ones, 

 and are the only 

 ones fit for setting. 



The dead leaves, if 

 any, are also re- 

 moved, and If the 

 weather be dry allow 

 but a few of the green 

 leaves to remain. 

 The leaves will .soon Rrow, while If many are 

 left the i)lant niav be exhausted of all lis vitality 

 and perish. The best seiuson for planting in llelil 

 ■ • "• r earlier, If weather iK-rmits, 



for the plants become 

 then fully rooted for a 

 large crop theconiing 

 year. In transplant- 

 ing, spread the ro<»ts 

 t»ut even with the sur- 

 face, as shown in fig- 

 ure y, not too deep, as 

 In figure 11, or too 

 shallow lUi in figure 12. 

 The cuts are so well 

 done, that the idea of 

 setting Is fully Illus- 

 trated. 



cut straw, and chafl' that falls behind the ma- 

 chines in tbreshiiig. .Ml tliat is required Is fine- 

 ness of the straw or bay. Ijong straw cannot be 

 spread evenly, and it cannot be removed from 

 the ro-v in spring 

 when the plants are 

 starting into growth. 

 The thickness of the 

 mulch depends upon 

 the material and the 

 climate. Wlien llie| 

 mulch is fine and tlie 

 wintermiid, from four 

 to six Ordinary loads, 

 per acre, are sufficient 

 for a covering an inch 

 or two thick. When 

 the mulch is coarse 

 and the winter severe, 

 from four to five 



inches are used. In spring the mulch must be 

 carefullv removed from the crowns of the berry 

 phiiit, or it will sinotlier them. Mulching always 

 pavs well. It makes larger berries, keeps (hem 

 free from sandiaud dirt, and by making them 

 later In bloom, lessens the danger of Injnry by 

 late frosts. Many Western growers, alter the 

 yitj crop of berries is gathered, set fire to tlie mulch, 

 ^ to kill the insects injurious to the fruit. 



Kl8lNC»tS> . 



FlGt'Bl- 



'^. ^ 



Figure 9. 



culture Is in May, 



Hill culture would be more practiced In berry 

 growing were It not for the trouble of keeping 

 the runners from taking root, thus, making the 

 matted row and also the use of the hoe biing 

 more necessary. We give a cut of a very excel- 

 lent plan of setting berries by the hill system, 

 and an easy plan of cultivation 

 whereby the use <if the hoe Is al- 

 most entirely avi>ided. The plants 

 are set In rows, eighteen Im-hes 

 between them, and the same ins- 

 tance apart In the rows. Then 

 a space of three feet left for horse 

 cultivation and three rows of hills 

 planted as before. These hills 

 ' range crossways as well as In the 

 row. The cultivation iseasy. The 

 three-foot space is thoroughly 

 pulverized by the horse cultiva- 

 tor and crossways by the use of 

 the Planet, Jr. wheel hoe, made 

 by S. L. Al'.en & Co., of Philadel- 

 phia, the use of wliich is plainly 

 shown In the cut. When hoed 

 crosswavs. the cultivation is con- 

 tinued liy going the other way and 

 all the soil will be loosened, 

 weeds and grass exterminated, 

 and the labor of hill culture will 

 be greatly riduced. The ground 

 should be cultivated by the wlieil 

 hoe after each rain. The weeds 

 and gnvss are more easily killed 

 by fi-ei)ueiitlv stirring the soil 

 than bv deslroving it after It has 

 become well islablished. After the berries have 

 fruited, the space between the bills is well Ciiltl- 

 vated and manured and the runners"'"- be al- 

 lowed to grow. They will soon fill the space and 

 raalce a riiattcd row for the next season's crop. 

 We prefer, however, annual renewal. The run- 

 ners are easily reduced by tb • use of a circular 

 cutter, an Illustration of which wc give. The 

 cutter is made of a cast steel ring, a foot, or s^ in 

 diameter and very sharp. A single thrust over 

 the hill will cut ofT ;.:1 runners In a rapid and 

 su cesslul manner. With the aid of the wheel 

 boe and runner cutter, the labor In hill culture 

 is greatly reiluced. We give in Figure 1 a good 

 Illustration of the berry In both hill and matted 

 row systems of culture. It conveys clearly the 

 two plans. 



MULCHING. 



The great use of mulching berries is not only to 

 keep the wi'cds from growing, but also to keep 

 the ground from cxjiosure to the hot sun and 

 drying winds. The mulch, by its gradual decay, 

 also furnishes manure for the soil. The mulch- 

 ing should not be done before a hard freeze in the 

 fall or early winter. Freezing will arrest the 

 growth of tiie plants and they can then be cov- 

 ered with the mulch willioul danger o! smother- 

 ing them, as a more early mulching mlglit do. 



The best material for niul<-h. Is fine hay or fine 



PICKING AND MARKETING. 



Berries carry, keep fresh longer, and of 

 course sell better, when a portion of the stem is 

 left on when picked. Tills is done by pinching 

 off the stem above the berry, Mith the thumb 

 and finger nail, taking care not to bruise 

 the fruit. Pulling or stripping the berries from 

 the ))lants will lessen the market valne, and 

 when very carelessly done, the berries are value- 

 less for shipment. Berries carry better when 

 picked In the cool of the morning, and allowed 

 to stand open to the air in the shade. Picked in 

 a hot sun, and at once put in a tight box, out of 

 the wind and air, will cause speedy sofleningand 

 deiav. .\lwavs ship berries in a well ventilated 

 car. Ventilation will always keep the fruit in 

 good condition. It is needless to say, make your 

 berries good for good i>rices. The orates for ship- 

 ping, shoulii be as light and have as much spring 

 as possible. The boxes must be packed closely 

 in tile crates to pn?vent shaking or moving. 

 Derries well picked and well shipped, are half 

 marketed. Never lose sight of the home market 

 for berries. 



VARIETIES. 



We will not take np the subject of varieties. 

 Our country is so large, the climate so varied, the 

 number of varieties so great, and the wants and 

 tastes of iieople so dlH'erent, that we could not re- 

 commeml a list that 

 would suit all who 

 wonkl grow berries. We 

 are often amused to 

 hear berry growers, 

 who plant largely, in 

 the same vicinity, dif- 

 fer wiiiely as to the 

 varieties that suit the 

 neighborhood in which 

 thi'yan- located. "When 

 dficIorsilillV-r. who shall 

 decide ?" -Ml we can do 

 Is, fVoiii time to time, 

 to figure and accurately 

 describe all berries, as 



they appear to us. The 1 ,», 



sekcl ions must be to the taste and wants of the 

 grower. The suitability of any berry can only be 

 correcllv found by trial on the grounds o; the 

 person who wishes to grow the best fruit. No 

 theory will be of use. Practical experiments 

 only, will decide it to the satisfaction of the 

 grower. © 



Figure 12. 



Raspberry, MARL BO RO . 

 Gooseberry. INDUSTRY. 

 Crape, NI.A.G.A.Ft.A. 



circulars giving full descriplion nnd prices together 

 with acoliireil rime ol the Oooseberry free. 



ELLWANGER & BARRY, MhcHfr^^i-srJT^. 



NEW 



VINES— Po'keepsie, Red Ulster, 

 Proliflc, NIA(;Al{A,and other 

 • tidand n?Frran>o>\,Stra\vl)erriea, 

 Blackberries MAKI-IJOISO i 



other RaflpbeiTieB. CatnloRuey r»-« 



JUl::i. IIOKMilt A: SON, ^llercbantville, N.J. 



GRAPE 



OOT (ill AFTS. Apple SeedliiiBn. nnd Iinport- 

 ' eil Slocks. Young Ornanientnls. •ye. Jlidticed 

 frice-Llst jmt txsiud. .STAKK & CO.. Loulllana. BOi 



R' 



TRAWBERRIES niscRiprivE j'„VT-„S'.;'V.iin';-"S?^^;:: 



Figure 7. 



^ And Lthrr CHOICE SMALL FRUITS. 



GREENHOUSE AND BEDDING PLANTS. 



SEF ILLlSTKATliD CATALOGUE, FREE. 

 nrn ■ MIIITD KinoF.woon NntsF.KlES, 



GEO. L WIILLER, stockton, qhiq. 



CTnUC'C URDnV .\1I the leading Strawberries 

 blUnt O tlAnU! Rnsiibcrries. 'Jrnpej. and 

 RmaM Frnlts. STONE'S HARDY llI,.\f'KBER. 



ilYiaoursppcialiv. Bp-;! I'huit--. I,.m est Prices. .Vi"( 

 for Lkl. OOE * CONVERSE, 



(Name paper.) lort Atk-tn-tnti. II is 



BLACKBERRY 



99 



"RANCOCAS 



THE 3IOST PUOnrCTIVE. HARDY, EARLY 



RASPBERRY 



FIXE COI.OH. CAKRIES WELL. 



RED 



GOOn QI, VLITY. 



A GREAT MARKET BERRY. 



Shonldhenlnntedhv every one. Send for dpscrlplinn and 

 terms. W. II. JiOON, Cu-lutroducer, MorrUvUli:, Ja. 



^t;,'^' READING NURSERY, Established in 1854. 



JACOB W. MANNING, Reading, Mass. 



■DTTTTTJT'TJ'DV A VALl AHLE FRIIT. 

 illj U I^ijJliXvA X . Siicceeils on nil Soils nnd 

 is ii PltOI'IT AIM.i; KRIIT to Krowformnrket. 

 naino Ctininc IllnslriitcdDescriptiVH Price. list Iree. 

 UclUS OlapICO, \\ est Sebewn, Ionia Co.. .llicu. 



1S3«-1S,S4. 



THE LARGEST 



ANI> MOST IIEAITIKIL C^ 



EARLY PEAR. 



Itipening in fctilvnl >'•■"• York earl) In 

 July, .ind lells at hlqheH prices. Sciid for 

 hlslOfYOl Orici'nl Tree. 100 vrs. old. 

 It, lleailqiinrlcis 1." KIKFFER. 

 rears, PARRY Slrnwlicrries» 



_ WII/SON .H'NIOR niacUlierries, 



illAllLUORO Raspberries, and <;KAI'ES. 

 WILLIAM PARRY, V»rrjf P. O., Now Jcmey. 



