LA.YING OUT THE COMMERCIAL SMALL FRUIT FARM 177 



the Delaware, a dark red grape fully two weeks earlier than Con- 

 cord, about the size of Agawam and as fine a flavored grape as I 

 ever tasted. Mr. Wolford claims this variety as superior to any 

 other red grape and hardier than any black for Minnesota. From 

 what I have seen of it I am convinced that this grape is all that he 

 claims for it, and would want a goodly number of this variety in a 

 commercial small fruit farm. I would plant my grapes eight feet 

 apart in rows and ten feet between rows. 



I would not consider this small fruit farm complete without a 

 good patch of currants and gooseberries. Of currants I would plant 

 Victoria, Red Dutch, Long Bunch Holland and White Grape. Of 

 gooseberries I would plant Houghton and Downing, and on the west 

 and north side of my ground I would plant a hedge of the buffalo 

 berry, planting one out of five to male plants to insure a crop. 

 Buffalo berries, if planted three feet apart, will make a perfect hedge 

 and a very good fence as well, and while making a good fence will 

 produce a very nice crop of fruit. 



LAYING OUT AND PLANTING THE STRAWBERRY 



FIELD. 



A. W. KEAYS, ELK RIVER. 



Although the strawberry crop is very uncertain in this section 

 of the state, we have never been without some fruit since we com- 

 menced to grow strawberries — the Jenkins is sure to bear when 

 all else fail. 



I select a piece of level land that will not be affected by drouth 

 and manure heavily with well rotted, heavy manure. I plow deep, 

 and if the land is clay I subsoil. I plant to turnips, beets, carrots or 

 squash. I am very particular to not let a weed go to seed. After 

 the crop is removed I again manure heavily with well rotted dressing 

 and plow down for winter. In the spring I work well with an Acme 

 pulverizer as soon as the soil is in good condition to work ; I use a 

 number 14 wire line to set the plants, which should be in rows four 

 and five feet apart and fifteen to eighteen inches apart in the rows. 



I use a spade or spading fork to set the plants. I commence 

 planting about the first or tenth of May if the soil is moist enough. 

 I press the soil firmly about the roots, taking care to not get the 

 plants too deep or have the roots above the level of the surface ; as 

 soon as the plants are set I rake around the plants with a fine tooth 

 rake to bring the moisture to the surface. 



In a week I go over the beds and reset all that have failed or 

 are weak ; I rake after every rain or once a week for several weeks ; 



