266 How to Make the Garden Pay. 



necessary. Well decomposed stable manure is always a reliable 

 fertilizer, provided it is free from weed seeds, and if we only have 

 enough of such, we have no reason to look for anything else. 

 Under no circumstances use manure liable to befoul the land 

 with weeds, as the latter are the great curse of the strawberry 

 grower. I believe it is easier to grow a good crop of onions on 

 weedy land (although not an enjoyable task) than to keep a 

 strawberry patch clean when once well stocked with weeds. The 

 latter invariably interfere very seriously with the strawberry crop. 



On fairly good soil I have had most excellent success with 

 concentrated commercial fertilizers. They have the advantage 

 of being free from weed seeds, and may be used alone, or in 

 combination with smaller quantities of stable compost. They 

 also lessen the dangers from fungus diseases, and make a firmer 

 and better berry than the stable manure alone. 



Potash fertilizers are of especial benefit to all fruit crops, 

 and I would recommend, as a good, safe ration for strawberries 

 on most soils, 400 pounds of muriate of potash and from 6, o to 

 1000 pounds of bone-meal per acre. Wood ashes, especially if 

 unleached, are also a most excellent manure for strawberries, 

 being rich in the mineral plant foods, particularly in potash the 

 one substance most urgently needed. 



PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. The roots of strawberries go 

 down deeply into the ground without spreading a great deal. 

 Consequently the soil must be loosened up deeply. Stable 

 manure, if applied, is to be plowed in. The use of a good sub- 

 soil plow, after the common plow, is always advisable, and time 

 spent in cross-plowing and in thorough harrowing is always well 

 employed. If ashes and concentrated fertilizers are used, they 

 should be put on the surface after plowing, and then thoroughly 

 mixed with the soil by means of a Disk harrow, cultivator, or hoe. 

 If soil is lumpy, roller or Meeker harrow may be brought 

 into use. In short, no means should be neglected by which the 

 desired mellowness and smooth surface of the soil can be secured. 

 The next thing is to mark out furrows four feet apart, either with 

 a corn-marker or a one-horse plow, taking particular pains to run 

 them straight and even. 



QUALITY OF PLANTS. Early fall, or even summer, is the time 

 usually selected for planting strawberries in the southern states. 

 At the north we oftener prefer to plant in spring, unless we have 

 a chance to get good plants the first runners made after the 

 fruiting season not later than August. If these plants are " pot 

 grown," or taken up with a clump of soil, they may be expected 

 to do all the better. 



The quality of the plants influences the result, both immed- 

 iate and permanent, very materially. I believe in " pedigree " 

 with strawberry plants as well as with vegetable seeds, or with 



