SEPTEMBER 1, 1915 



i;\ Ki;n' .\:;i.\a strawberries. 



If we had been told ten years au.0 that the time 

 v.ould shortly coine when an abundance of straw- 

 berries could be gathered from plants set less than 

 three months before, we would certainly have thought 

 the prophecy unsound. But our eyes have seen und 

 our ears have heard the fulfillment of such a proph- 

 ecy. 



At the meeting of the Portage Co. Horticultural 

 Society, held on July 21, Mr. W. B. Nichols exhibit- 

 ed a box of strawberries, very uniform in size and 

 shape, being globular and about one inch in diame- 

 ter. In answer to questions he said: "The vinos 

 that bore these berries were transplanted in April of 

 this year. They were set in good soil which wa.s 

 cultivated "well and continuously. The runners were; 

 cut off and the blossoms picked as soon as they ap- 

 peared. To do this required constant daily attention, 

 for a runner, will grow three or four inches in a 

 day. They are of the Superb variety of the ever- 

 bearing class. The picking of the blossoms ceased 

 three weeks ago and the result is before you. I 

 have demonstrated," he said, " that I can grow 

 ripe strawberries in abundance within three months 

 after the setting of the plants, which is in marked 

 contrast with tlie June-bearing varieties, which re- 

 quire at least 14 months to secure good results. To 

 get the quick returns demands fertile soil, good ami 

 continuous culture, and the prevention of the natural 

 setting of new plants. All effort must be given to 

 the rapid and healthy growth of the individual plant 

 so that when the fruiting time arrives its undivide.l 

 attention may be given to the production of berries." 



V/ill it pay to give such careful attention to grow 

 the strawberry out of its so-called natural season .' 

 It is one of the most universally liked berries that 

 are grown, especially in the fresh state. It is quite 

 difficult to preserve it in anything like its original 

 form and flavor for auy considerable time. ThiU 

 there is an active demand is evidenced by the fact 

 that at times during the late summer and fall months 

 the supply of fresh berries has not equaled the de- 

 mand at 40 cents and more per quart. — C. H. Sapi-, 

 Portage Co., Ohio. 



I confess I have always had a liking fur 

 things that grow quick. When some of the 

 catalogs advertised different seeds tliat 

 won Id give radishes large enough to eat in 

 21 days from the time the seed was sown, 

 I thought it was quite a feat; but on very 

 rich soil, just the right temperature, plenty 

 of water, and good cultivation, I have suc- 

 ceeded in getting very fair little radishes in 

 only 18 days. Now, with the rasj^berry 

 mentioned, and also witli strawberries, you 

 must have very rich soil, well drained, a 

 location that gives free sunshine without 

 any shade from early in the morning (ill 

 late at night, and, above all, careful atten- 

 tion. I think I loosened the ground around 

 my raspberries as much as a dozen times, 

 breaking the crust, and digging it up after 

 every rain. But to get strawberries in 90 

 days we must make up our mind to give 

 them good care. 



After the above was put in type it oc- 

 curred to me that down in my Florida home 

 strawbeiTies are planted by the acre in 

 September and October; and my good 

 neighbor, year after year, is picking them 

 for market, more or less, in even less than 



00 days from the time of setting out the 

 plants; and they usually get a good price 

 for the berries too. 



BEF.S, PLOWEKl^, AND COLLEGE GRADUATES. 



On page 64fi, Aug. 1, our good friend 

 Woodberry, in speaking of my visit there 

 something o\er twenty years ago, says: 



" I was a bachelor then, but now have a 

 daughter who graduates from college this 

 spring." 



Later on he wrote as follows: 



I inclose a picture of our daughter Anna, taken in 

 oar garden about six weeks ago. She is standing in 

 front of some sweet peas, and in the background is 

 a castor-bean hedge planted less than a year ago. 



I wish to congratulate you and your helpmate on 

 your long and happy sojourn here on earth together. 

 May you both continue to enjoy your blessings to the 

 ripest of ripe old age. 



Glendale, Cal. G. B. Woodberry. 



Below is the picture. 



In a California garden. " Her price is far above 

 rubies." 



Now just a word to my bachelor friends, 

 not only away off in California, but wher- 

 ever they may be, anywhere in the whole 

 wide world. These words are to remind you 

 of the sacred and solemn responsibilities 

 that are resting on yonv shoulders. Had 

 not friend Woodberry taken my advice 

 twenty years ago, and got a wife in that 

 bachelor's pretty little home, this bright 

 young lady in the picture would never have 

 come from Heaven to earth to bless tliat 

 earth, and to bless mankind at large. There 

 will never be too many young women col- 

 lege graduates to help stem the tide of 

 intemperance, crime, and wicked war (hat 

 are just now devastating the whole wide 

 world. 



