64 Strawberry-Growing 



begins. In many parts of the South, especially in eastern 

 Tennessee and Alabama, strawberries are grown wholly 

 on new ground and no fertilizer is used. Florida growers 

 fertilize heavily. About 1890, applications of two tons 

 an acre of high-grade fertilizer costing sixty-five dollars, 

 were common. Now, the maximum is about one ton, 

 costing forty dollars and analyzing 3 to 4 per cent nitro- 

 gen, 6 to 8 per cent phosphoric acid and 6 to 8 per cent 

 potash. On very sandy soils the proportion of potash 

 is increased to 10 or 12 per cent. The most popular 

 mixture in Florida is 800 pounds cottonseed meal, 800 

 pounds acid phosphate and 250 pounds muriate of potash. 

 From 400 to 1000 pounds of fertilizer are applied in 

 the furrow, when the plants are set. Some prefer to 

 wait until six weeks after planting and give a side-dressing. 

 Another side-dressing is given four to six weeks later, on 

 the opposite side of the row ; and in November or Decem- 

 ber a third application, directly between the plants in the 

 row. 



About the same methods are used in Georgia and 

 Alabama as in Florida. A 4-8-8 fertilizer is popular, 

 but nitrate of soda is preferred to cottonseed meal. 

 Most of the clay soils of Mississippi and Louisiana are 

 abundantly supplied with potash, but it is well to use 

 some potash, even on the clay soils, as it gives firmer 

 and brighter berries. From 400 to 800 pounds an acre 

 of a fertilizer analyzing 4 per cent of nitrogen and 6 per 

 cent of phosphoric acid, are most commonly used; on 

 sandy soils, 4 to 6 per cent of potash is added. In Miss- 

 issippi and Louisiana it is customary to apply one-half 

 of the fertilizer in June or early July and the balance in 

 the autumn. 



Most of the soils in the Ozark region are somewhat 



