STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 437 



come fertile and self-fertilizing, and snch may be the case with 

 Mr. Lyon, and his berries may not be cross-bred at all. So far, 

 it ■ appears to us, the proof that cross-fertilization does affect 

 strawberries, as asserted, seems to rest on a good foundation, 

 and will be advisable for our readers to make a note of it. 



FERTILIZERS. 



The strawberry wants two things in abundance, manure and 

 water. The ground cannot be made too rich and productive. 

 Potash and i^hosphate, esi^ecially potash, are specific manures 

 for strawberries. They never seem to know when they get 

 enough of them. Barn-yard and stable manures contain them 

 all, and can safely be used in any quantity. The more you use 

 of them the more the profit; the last load in all cases paying 

 better than the preceding one. Where there is a scarcity of 

 stable and barn-yard manures, ashes and the various potash salts 

 are next in value when apj)lied with bone-dust. The high grade 

 sulphate — eighty per cent — we like best, then the muriate, and 

 the common form of kainit. 



The proper time for application is, when used largely, before 

 the plants are set. One ton per acre of potash salts and one of 

 bone-dust will be found useful. The bone-dust can be sown 

 broadcast, after setting the berries, but before is preferable. 

 The use of potash fertilizers, after setting, must be in small 

 quantities — say two or three hundred pounds per acre, and 

 after each rain again applied. By this manner of applying the 

 potash salts all danger of burning the j)lants by them will be 

 avoided. Gypsum will make the berries of a lighter color, but 

 will not afi'ect the firmness. Where a rapid growth of the berry is 

 desired, the application of two hundred pounds of nitrate of soda 

 per acre, before a rain, a week or two previous to rij)ening, will 

 greatly increase the size of the berries, but at the exj)ense of 

 firmness. Varieties that have large leaves, like the Sharpless 

 and Kentucky, will be greatly increased in foliage and will ripen 

 poorly, while those of moderate sized leaves, like the Wilson, 

 will be benefited by it. The leaves will be so increased in size 

 that the berries will be better shaded. The nitrate of soda also 

 is valuable in dry weather. Plants fertilized with it will stand 

 dry weather better. Use manure freely for great ijrofits in berry 

 culture. 



