RAISING STRAAVBERRIES. 



RAISING OR HOW TO RAISE THE FINEST STRAWBERRIES. 



BY R. G. PARDEE, PALMYRA, N. Y. 



The following is the best way that I know, of cultivating the strawberry in our favora- 

 ble soil : 



Select, in the early spring, a rich deep mellow, gravelly loam, if possible, in rather low 

 moist ground, with a good exposure to the sun. Then spade it full a spade deep, repeat- 

 edly, on the first of every month until July, when the ground will have become thorough- 

 ly broken up and mellow, and also the danger of the earth packing and becoming hard, 

 will mainly have past. After breaking up the ground well on the 1st July, and levelling 

 off the soil instead of raising it into beds, then immediately set out the strawberry plants, 

 two in a stool, 18 to 24 inches apart. Then mulch, forthwith, the whole ground, includ- 

 ing the walk, with an inch and a-half deep of old tan-bark, saw-dust or well rotted ma- 

 nure; but I would carefully prevent any barn-yard manure, or even ashes, becoming in- 

 corporated in the soil previously or at this time. Next I would thoroughly Avater them, 

 and keep them sufficiently watered to insure a constant and vigorous growth, which is not 

 a task if well mulched. After this, the occasional pulling of a very few weeds, that find 

 their way through the mulching, and a slight coating of leaves and straw on the approach 

 of winter, is all the care I would give them, until the opening of the following spring, 

 when I pursue the following process : 



On removing the coating on the opening of spring, I fertilize the plants with a liberal 

 sprinkling of a solution of | lb. each of sulphate of pottassium, glauber salts, and sal soda, 

 and one ounce of muriate ammonia, to eight gallons water, and continue this once in a week 

 or ten days until they blossom, when I give them pure cold water till they ripen, when I 

 discontinue all applications. I do not say my combination of fertilizers cannot be im- 

 proved, but it proves efficient enough with me until I learn of a better one. 



If not couvenient, I do not break up the ground until the 1st July, when I plant out; 

 although I think it better not to allow the ground to be occupied the previous part of the 

 season, and to be fiequently stirred. I prefer, all things considered, the 1st to 10th July 

 for planting out, for the reason the soil does not bake so hard as if set out in spring, and 

 at this season I can secure the largest crop next June. If the setting out is delayed till 

 August, I can only depend on half a crop, and only a quarter if delayed till September. 

 By this plan, it will be seen, I avoid all trouble in forking over the ground in the AiU or 

 spring — I do not find it necessary. 



Although so many succeed unsatisfactorily in raising strawberries, yet I know of no 

 fruit raised in this climate on which I can, with such confidence, rely for a certain and regu- 

 lar large crop as by this plan, with good varieties— only amateurs who wish to raise re- 

 markably fine fruit may choose to take so much pains as the whole process here laid down 

 involves, yet M'hat is worth doing at all, is generally worth doing well. 



I will not presume to say that this plan is perfect, or is the be^t. Othei- soils and climate 

 may demand some modification, yet after examining a large number of grounds for years 

 past, and listening to, or reading the mode of procedure of a large number of the most 

 successful cultivators, I have summed them all up, and prefer the above to all others which 

 has come to my knowledge. Every cultivator has his own best way to accomplish the 

 object, and yet, perchance, all have much to learn from the experience or observation of 

 others. -d p 



Palmyra, N. V., Nov., 1S51. 



