BUSH FEUITS AND STRAWBERRIES 



Currant and Gooseberry 



175 



STRAWBERRIES 



Strawberries.— There is no small fruit that will bring more 

 delight to the grower than the strawberr5^ It requires little 

 si^ace and if properly raised will pay well for the soil occupied. 



This favorite of all small fruits will thrive in various kinds of 

 soil. It may be found in a sandy loam to a clay loam bear- 

 ing finely flavored berries. The success or failure in the culture 

 of the strawberry depends not so much upon the soil as upon 

 the plant food available, the moisture, and the method of culture. 



All soil, no matter whether it is sandy or a clay formation, 

 must have a large amount of decaying vegetable matter in it. 

 This will aid in retaining the necessary moisture to mature the 

 crop as well as in giving the root system a free feeding surface. 

 AVhile the decaying vegetable matter does increase the activity 

 of ferments and puts plant food in a condition in which the 

 growing plant may use it, care should be exercised not to add too 

 much nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda, which will cause 

 the plant to develop foliage and not fruit. 



If the soil is a sandy loam that has been used for other crops 

 for one or more years, add two or three inches of straw manure 

 (horse or cow) and plow or spade this under in the spring. The 

 manure should be well decayed and incorporated into the soil 

 so as to prevent the leaking out of both water and liquid manure. 



