54 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



I was told by a man supposed to be very learned in these things 

 that every enemy to fruit had its parasites and that no one bug or 

 worm was likely to be troublesome more than three years at a set- 

 ting. Well, it is a comfort to know that something is sure to "get 

 even" with them. But, meantime, I do not propose to keep on plant- 

 ing and then sit tamely by and watch these creatures eat up my 

 labor, while the parasites are coming, if I can help it. So I would 

 like to know if there is any way of heading off the raspberry borer 

 in my Cuthberts, the kind that goes in backward with a gimlet at- 

 tachment to his tail; or how to cope with the blackcap trouble, the 

 one that causes the berries when just out of bloom to turn drj-^ and 

 hard as pebbles; the best remedy for currant caterpillar, and when 

 applied; also, if anything besides kerosene emulsion has been used 

 for plant lice on currants, apples and plums. The emulsion has 

 proved useless in every instance in which I have tried it. Or in all 

 these things is Bob Burdett's doctrine orthodox, "to raise weeds 

 plentifully all through your fruit and spray them abundantly with 

 the insecticides, thus inducing the insects to leave the fruit and 

 fatten on their favorite diet!" 



STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 



K. J. COE, FORT ATKINSON, WIS. 



Henry Ward Beecher once said: "Doubtless God could have 

 made a better berry than the strawberry, but he never did." And 

 that is the sentiment of everyone who grows them himself and can 

 have them in all their delicious freshness and beauty. That this 

 is also the sentiment of those who live in the cities is abundantly 

 proved by the great quantities that are grown and marketed each 

 season. I think it safe to say that more strawberries are put on the 

 market every year than all the other small fruits together. If this 

 is true, it behooves us as horticulturists to put a little thought on 

 how to grow the best crop of such varieties as will find a ready sale 

 at the highest market price and that at the least- expense. As a 

 rule, it is the largest crop that costs the least per quart to produce. 

 Let us consider briefly, first, the soil and its preparation. We very 

 often hear it said, that any land that will produce good corn is all 

 right for strawberries, which is very true, but I would prefer a soil 

 somewhat more moist than the ideal corn land. In preparing land 

 for strawberries, begin, if possible, the year before planting, by 

 manuring heavily and planting to some hard crop that can be taken 

 ofif early. As soon as September 1st, plow and sow to rye, using 

 plenty of seed, say two or two and one-half bushels per acre. This 

 protects from loss of fertility. Plow in spring as early as the land gets 

 dry enough to plow up fine and mellow. Immediately after plow- 

 ing harrow very thoroughly, five or six times at least, and thereafter 

 every few days until planting time. This, with the spring rains, 

 puts the ground in the best condition for planting, being both line 

 and firm. A little extra work done before planting will more thnii 

 pay. Land so treated will stand drouth much better than in :iiiy 



