CHAPTER IX. 



THE PREPARATION OF SOILS COMPARATIVELY UNFAVORABLE 



CLAY, SAND, ETC. 



T X JE have now reached a point at which we must con- 

 ' ^ sider land which in its essential character is unfavor- 

 able to strawberries, and yet which may be the best to be 

 had. The difficulties here are not merely accidental or 

 remediable, such as lack of depth or fertility, the presence 

 of stones or stumps, undue wetness of soil, etc. Any or all 

 of these obstacles may be found, but in addition there are 

 evils inseparable from the soil, and which cannot be wholly 

 eradicated. The best we can hope in such a case is to 

 make up by art what is lacking in nature. 



This divergence from the deep, moist sandy loam, the 

 ideal strawberry land, is usually toward a stiff, cold, stubborn 

 clay, or toward a droughty, leachy sand that retains neither 

 fertihty nor moisture. Of course, these opposite soils re- 

 quire in most respects different treatment. 



We will consider first the less objectionable, that is, the 

 heavy clay. To call clay more favorable for strawberries 

 than sandy land may seem like heresy to many, for it is a 

 popular impression that Hght soils are the best. Experi- 

 ence and observation have, however, convinced me of the 

 contrary. With the clay you have a stable foundation. 

 Your progress may be slow, but it can be made sure. The 

 character of a sandy foundation was taught centuries ago. 

 Moreover, all the fine foreign-blooded varieties, as well as 



