260 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



When you get hold of a berry that succeeds well year after year 

 with you, hold on to it, and don't switch off after every new variety 

 that may be introduced to the public. For fear you may think I have 

 Bubach on the brain, "and perhaps I have," I will now proceed to 

 the other branch of my subject. 



BEST PLAN OF GROWING STRAWBERRIES FOB MAEKET. 



The first thing to be considered is the preparation of the soil. 



If the ground is new, good plowing and thorough harrowing is all 

 that is necessary to prepare for the reception of plants. If old and 

 worn, and exhausted by repeated raising of grain crops, the best plan 

 is to let it rest one season. Plow late in the fall (if subsoiled, 16 in- 

 ches deep); it will be that much the better. During the winter haul 

 out fresh manure from the stable and scatter over the ground, which 

 by the aid of rain and snow Mill be leached and washed into the soil. 

 In the spring, as soon as the ground is fit to work, scatter broadcast 

 some unleached ashes. Plow shallow, pulverize the soil thoroughly, 

 and you are ready for setting, with all the essential elements in the 

 ground for successful plant growth. We should guard against the 

 excessive use of strong fertilizers, for if we induce too much plant 

 growth we shall find the crop of berries greatly diminished. Berries 

 that are grown on highly stimulated soil, with a superabundance of 

 foliage, are generally soft and often unfit for shipment. 



Dried blood is a good fertilizer. It should be scattered over the 

 rows in the spring about the time the plants begin to bloom. Dried 

 blood contains a large amount of phosphoric acid, which, together with 

 potash, form the essential elements which are necessary to the success- 

 ful growth of the strawberry. 



Strawberry plants should be set in the spring as soon as the 

 ground is in proper condition to work. There are many plans for set- 

 ting strawberries. The one which I have practiced for a long series 

 of years is as follows : 



Take the medium sized shovel that is used on the one-horse Planet 

 Junior cultivator, and lay off your rows with a horse, just like the old- 

 fashioned way of marking corn rows. I generally use stakes in order 

 to keep the rows straight. Then have one hand to drop and two to 

 set, and the work will be done speedily. 



This plan is more speedy, easier and just as reliable as any other 

 ia practice. And now comes the most important part of the whole 

 business. This is cultivation. Cultivation should be commenced within 

 one week from time of setting, and kept up until the first of October. 

 Cultivate : cultivate ; repeatedly and often. The dryer it is, the more 



