SOILS FOR STRAWBERRIES 427 



these crops during the season and the relation of irrigation to them 

 in the Sevastopol district of Sonoma county is thus described: 



We commence cultivating as soon as the ground can possibly be 

 worked in the spring and continue with a very thorough cultivation until 

 the first crop nearly reaches maturity. From this time until the first crop 

 is nearly over, the weeds are pulled by hand, being careful not to disturb 

 the surface of the ground too much close to the plants. 



As soon as the first crop is about gone, the first irrigation is given. 

 This is continued until the second crop is well on its way, at the same 

 time cultivating thoroughly, but not too deep or too close to the plant. 



During the harvesting of the second crop in June and the first part of 

 July, the irrigating is lessened to quite an extent. As soon as the second 

 crop is off, the water is kept off entirely for about three weeks. 



Irrigation is then commenced again and kept up continuously until 

 fall. In about three weeks after this fall irrigation is commenced, the 

 new leaves and buds commence to appear, and in a short time the field 

 looks as fresh and fine as it did in the spring. By October 1 the fall or 

 third crop is being harvested. The berries are of an exceedingly fine 

 flavor, color and size, and sell at fancy prices. 



"Strawberries all the year" does not mean a uniform supply; 

 nor does it mean that everywhere in California can one expect such 

 constant fruiting. In the very hot interior situations the plant rebels 

 against the atmospheric conditions of midsummer, even though the 

 ground be moist; and in frosty places the plants become dormant 

 during the wintry portion of the year. The conditions of constant 

 growth and bearing are moderation of temperature and of atmospheric 

 and soil moisture throughout the year. 



Situations and Soils for the Strawberry. Bearing in mind the 

 conditions described, the strawberry can be grown anywhere in 

 California. The native species, as mentioned in Chapter V, flourish 

 from the sand of the ocean beach to the rich valleys of the Sierra, 

 just below the line of perpetual snow, and the deduction is that 

 wherever fertile soil and sweet water can be brought together in 

 California, the strawberry will reward the grower. 



Strawberries do well on a variety of soils, but as a rule a deep, 

 moist, loamy soil will yield best results. Boggy or swampy spots 

 should be avoided unless drainage is provided, and in this way most 

 excellent strawberry ground may sometimes be secured. Land which 

 will produce good potatoes or corn will generally yield good results 

 with strawberries, provided irrigation is furnished. In many regions 

 the plants will hardly survive the summer without irrigation and 

 everywhere a succession of crops during the season depends upon 

 irrigation. It is the common experience that light, warm soils yield 

 the earliest and highest-flavored berries, and heavy soils the later and 

 larger ones; but the size of the berry depends more upon the supply 

 of available moisture, and immense fruit can be produced on loose, 

 open soils by free irrigation. And yet the heavier soil, both because 

 of its usually superior fertility and retention of moisture, is preferred 

 for the strawberry. The largest producing regions for the San Fran- 

 cisco market in the Santa Clara and Pajaro Valleys are comprised 

 mainly of low-lying, heavy valley soils naturally moist and rich, and 

 furnished with abundant water supply for irrigation. And yet in 

 southern California the chief market crops are produced upon light 



