PLANTING STRAWBERRIES. 145 



PLANTING STRAWBERRIES. 



A. M. SHEPHERD, MINNEAPOLIS. 



Plant strawberries liberally, for they belong- distinctively to us of 

 a northern climate, and, if planted properly, we may reasonably 

 look for an abundant crop and enjoy without stint, according to a 

 northern bard, " a dish of luscious strawberries smothered in cream." 



The soil being thoroughly prepared, as in foregoing paper, our 

 secretary has given us no difficult task. On our soil, a light black 

 loam, we use a line and dibble. For the matted row system, plant- 

 in the rows four feet apart and the plants one foot apart in the row 

 for staminates (except perhaps Bederwood and Michael's Early); and 

 from one and one-half to two feet for all pistillates (including Be- 

 derwood and Michael's Early). We insist on not exposing the roots 

 to the wind or sun, and to carry the plants use a milk pan partly full 

 of water (preferably muddy), placing plants in the pan so that 

 the roots will be covered with water and the foliage out; over all 

 placing a damp cloth or gunny sack. Each planter has his pan and 

 dibble, makes the hole and sets the plant at one going over the 

 ground. Never drop the plants ahead of the planter. 



We believe the great points in successful planting are: first, 

 thorough preparation of the soil; second, keeping the roots from 

 the wind and the sun; third, thoroughly firming about the plants. 

 The mechanical form of planting we believe secondary to any of 

 these. We have tried many ways of planting and find those set with 

 the dibble do equally as well as those set by methods requiring 

 much more time. If you haven't a dibble handy, use the spade 

 much as you do the dibble. Insert in soil and press forward, place 

 the plant in the opening with the roots spread, withdraw the spade 

 and firm. Light soils require especial attention to firming. If ex- 

 tra large and choice fruit is required, plant in rows two feet apart 

 and one to one and one-half in the row, keeping in hills. It is un- 

 doubtedly an advantage to plant in the evening, a cloudy day or 

 just before or after a rain. After conforming with foregoing spe- 

 cial points, however, we set at once without waiting for any condi- 

 tion of weather. We do not believe in artificial watering, unless it 

 can be kept up and copiously, when great benefit results. 



Mr. J. A. Sampson: I have tried the dibble and I have also 

 tried planting by hand. Where I have planted with the dibble 

 I have had nearly one-half of the plants die, and where I have 

 planted by hand I have not lost more than one plant in fifty. 

 Thus where the ground is marked and thoroughly prepared, in 

 planting by hand, at the place where I want to set the plant, I 

 draw the earth towards me with the hand and then take a plant 

 and set it in and then shove the earth right back again and give 

 it a little pressure, and it will be almost sure to grow; whereas, 

 in planting with the dibble you pry the ground open, put your 

 plant in, and then set the dibble on one side and push the earth 



