FERTILIZING STRAWBERRIES 



but the quality is seldom equal to berries grown under the 

 more intensive methods. The matted row system is now 

 practiced by the majority of the larger commercial growers 

 in the principal strawberry districts of the United States. 



Marking out the Beds. It is important in both systems 

 of planting that the bed be marked out with great care so 

 that under the hill system the plants will check, and under 

 the matted row system the rows will be perfectly straight 

 and the plants properly spaced. This preliminary care 

 materially facilitates after care and cultivation and lessens 

 the necessity of hand weeding and hoeing, two of the 

 most expensive and troublesome items in the management 

 of all small fruit plantings. 



Selection of Individual Plants. The strawberry differs 

 from other plants in its habit of propagation. As soon as 

 the plant has produced a crop of fruit it sends out long, 

 slender shoots or "runners," which take root at intervals 

 and produce new plants. These new plants are the ones 

 which should be selected for transplanting to the new berry 

 field. Plants for transplanting may be obtained from 

 reputable commercial growers or from old established beds 

 near at hand. In the latter event, they should be selected 

 with great care, only those free from disease and showing 

 vigorous development being chosen. Medium sized plants 

 are preferred since they are known to possess greater vitality. 

 The strongest, most vigorous and healthy plants are those 

 taken from beds where the parent plants have not been 



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