THE NEW STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 383 



appareutly .stand .<till and become thoroiiijfhly infested with le:if 

 blig^lit, but the weeds do not fail to tcrow unless a great amount of 

 work is laid out on them. 



Strawberry g-rowers all know that the first six weeks after the . 

 I)lanls are set is the most expensive period. You must be ever vigi- 

 lant or the weeds get the start, especially- if the plants are weak and 

 ilel)ilitated by leaf blight. 



Hy our new method the field is plowed and worked over with har- 

 rows and cultivators for about six weeks before setting out the 

 plants. All weed seeds are destroyed, and if the land is infested 

 with grubs they are brought to the surface where birds pick them 

 up. In our localitj- we keep the plants in the beds and do not set 

 them out permanently until about June first. At this time the soil 

 is warm, and, if the last harrowings be very shallow, the soil will be 

 moist, and when set out the plants will boom right along. 



One of the greatest advantages of this sj'Stem is that it facilitates 

 the spraj'ing. We find that it is absolutelj"- necessary to spray with 

 Bordeaux mixture if we are to keep plants healthy. It is expensive 

 to go over eight thousand plants and spraj' them if they are spread 

 over an acre. It takes more time, and much liquid is wasted. When 

 set in a bed closelj' together, it can be done easilj' and cheaplj-^ every 

 week, and the leaf blight is killed before the plants go to the field. 

 Ordinarily, I do not believe they will need further spraj'ing the same 

 year and hardlj- ever in the fruiting year if plants are set on clean 

 soil not infested with leaf blight fungus. The}' will, however, need 

 further spraying if stawberries have been grown on the same soil 

 year after year. 



Fanners are alwaj's busy getting in spring crops at the season 

 strawberries are generally set. By this plan they wait until the 

 rush is over. A man will "heel in,"or set closely together, ten thous- 

 and plants in a daj', while to set out perjuanentlj' an ordinary man 

 can onl}' handle about two thousand plants. If treated right, nearly 

 and often quite as good a growth may be secured as when plants 

 are set b}- the old method in early spring. I have seen rows nine 

 feet wide grown in one season from plants treated in this manner. 



If plants are wanted for setting the middle or latter part of June, 

 they should not be heeled in the little bed until about May l.lth or 

 thereabouts. The earlier you intend setting out permanently, the 

 earlier they should be heeled in, and vice versa. Of course, all blos- 

 soms and runners should be removed from the plants when they are 

 set closelj' in the heeling-ground, and when finally taken up all old 

 leaves and any superfluous foliage should be clipped off. 



Practical experience is worth more than theory, and for the benefit 

 of those who might otherwise think this something that had been 

 gotten up simply because it was new, I will say that we have been 

 practicing this plan with great success for several years. — Weatern 

 N. y. Horticultural Society's Report of 1893. 



