THE SMALL FRUIT GARDEN. 



199 



Picking Strawberries on an Ontario Fruit Farm. 



With many Fruit Growers in Ontario, Strawberries are among their best paying crops. On some plantations several acres of these 

 berries are grown yearly. The illustration shows pickers at work in the strawberry fields of Morns & McCuUough, Nantyr, Ont. (bee 

 article on this page.) 



Growing Strawberries on a Large 

 Scale 



MORRIS & m'CULIvOUGH, NANTRY, ONT. 



DURING the last six or seven years v/e 

 have grown three to six acres of 

 strawberries each year. In preparing the 

 land we like it well manured and worked up 

 in some root crop the year before, such as 

 turnips, potatoes, sugar l)eets or something 

 of that kind. This sprouts any seeds that 

 may be in the manure and leaves the land 

 clean. 



In the late autumn the land is plowed to a 

 good depth, giving the winter and frost a 

 good chance to pulverize the soil. As soon 

 as the land is dry enough in the spring the 

 harrow is put on it every week until plant- 

 ing or near planting time. It is plowed 

 nicely and harrowed and rolled. If it is 

 lumpy the harrow and roller are kept on 

 until the land is i/i nice condition for setting 

 the plants. The early harrowing keeps the 

 moisture from escaping. 



In plants we are not satisfied with any- 

 thing but the very best of whatever variety 



we may desire. Care is taken to see the new 

 plant has the same gland system as that from 

 which it came. It does not pay to be too 

 careful about expense in securing plants. 

 SETTING OUT THE) PLANTS. 



Our method in planting has been to set 

 small stakes at both ends of the field 4 feet 

 apart. Some varieties, such as the Clyde, 

 should not be more than 3 feet apart. From 

 these stakes a line is stretched, a man and 

 boy starting with it at one end. If we have 

 help enough the men start at both ends. Two 

 men in this way should put in about 5,000 

 plants in a day. 



After planting, the scuffler should start 

 and go through them at least once a week, 

 or as soon as the ground is dry enough after 

 a heavy rain. This should continue all 

 summer, and also the free use of the hoe 

 among the vines to keep them perfectly 

 clean. Keep all bloom picked off during 

 the first season. 



Our mulch is put on in the early winter 

 after the ground is nicely frozen. The rows 

 are covered with pea straw if we 'can get it, 

 if not we use the next best thing we can se- 



