32 Strawberry Culture 



Fall Planting 



The finest berries that it is possible to produced may be 

 grown on plants set in the summer and fall. This has been 

 demonstrated thousands of times, and is generally conceded. 

 Most of the fine exhibition berries that capture the prizes are 

 grown on fall-set plants. Plants set in July and August are us- 

 ually classed as fall-set. The plan of planting at that season 

 has its advantages and disadvantages. If spring work was so 

 pressing that planting strawberries had to be put off, or if the 

 matter was neglected for any reason, it can still be attend to. 

 Coming soon after strawberry season, one has more interest in 

 the subject. In summer and fall there are vacant places where 

 early crops were grown, and the time between planting and se- 

 curing the crop is so short that there are no objections to sparing 

 the land. Plants set at that time are usually free from the 

 attacks of insect enemies, and the crop comes off in ample time to 

 admit of replanting for the next year's crop. The objections to 

 fall planting are that plants are not easily obtained, are higher 

 in price, the weather is more liable to be unfavorable, more care 

 and skill are required, and fall set plants are more likely to be 

 injured in the winter if left unprotected. 



Unless it is necessary to plow the land for the purpose of 

 burying rubbish, weeds or manure, a thorough stirring with the 

 cultivator to prevent a growth of weeds and retain moisture, is 

 all that is necessary. This should be done as long before plant- 

 ing as possible, and it should be repeated after every rain. If 

 the ground has to be plowed, let it be done early, and the most 

 thorough harrowing should be given, so as to firm the soil. 



If a liberal dressing of well-rotted stable manure can be ap- 

 plied it will be a great advantage. It should be stirred in before 



