SMALL FRUITS. . 27 



Mr. Elliot: In the east we hear a great deal about the use of 

 commercial fertilizers, but here in the west where we are in a 

 new countrJ^ with new land and with such an abundance of 

 farmyard production that can be utilized, it seems to me the 

 time has not come when we can use commercial fertilizers to the 

 best advantage. I think if every one would use the home pro- 

 duction and apply it judiciously they would arrive at the con- 

 clusion that it is the most economical fertilizer thev can use. 



THE STRAWBERRY 



D. v. PLAXTS, LOXG LAKE. 



To grow this fruit the land should be rich and well drained, moist 

 but not wet, and pulverized deeplj". Then roll or crush. I prefer the 

 latter, as it levels the surface much better than the roller. I then 

 take my line and put a six-penny w^ire nail through the line every 

 twenty-six inches until I reach the end of the line. Then I start at 

 a certain point, stretch the line, set a plant at each nail, then move 

 my line three feet and nine inches, keeping m}- point of beginning 

 in view, until the plantation is set. It is then checked rowed twen- 

 tj'-six inches by three feet and nine inches. 



I cultivate both waj's and as often as once a week and sometimes 

 more ofte"n. After a shower, as soon as the surface is dry enough, 

 to close the cracks caused by drying, so as to retain the moisture 

 for plant growth, I keep the cultivator running both w^ays until the 

 first of August, keeping the runners cut off until that time; then 

 cultivate the wide way onl}- until October first. At the approach of 

 cold ^'eather, mulch verj' heavily bettreen the rows, and on the 

 row^s T^erj^ lightly. Even in planting large fields I w^ould use a line, 

 for much is to be gained in cultivating by having straight rows. 

 Great care must be taken in digging plants so as not to injure them, 

 for much depends on this. Plants should be raised outside of the 

 fruiting plantation, and should be dug up solid for setting; we g'et 

 much better and stronger plants by doing this than we do by dig- 

 ging from the alleys of fruiting beds. 



What particular varieties will succeed best with anj- one is hard 

 to tell. Every fruit grower must experiment to some extent himself. 



Another verj- important point is good drainage. This is done best 

 by ditching, as it changes the physical character of the soil, the cir- 

 culation of air and the readiness of water to move through it. This 

 in some mj'sterious way changes the character of the soil and 

 greatly promotes plant growth, even though no fertilizer is applied, 

 and the results are more satisfactory. 



To classify the strawberry growers of this countr}- I would put 

 them in three classes, as follows: 



i^irs^.— Those who have other farm work to do besides raising- 

 berries. They go at it in a wholesale, broadcast, slip-shod and dis- 

 tructive way. Thej' get a verj- unsalable variety- of berries and 

 no profit. 



