66 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



STRAWBERRIES— HOW TO OBTAIN A PROFITABLE 



CROP. 



E. W. WoosTER, Hancock. 



The first thing to be considered is the selection and prepara- 

 tion of the ground. If greensward is to be used, and the 

 sward is very heavy, on rather low land, it should be planted 

 to some hoed crop and given clean culture for two seasons 

 before setting strawberry plants, to kill the weed seeds and 

 clean out the white grubs, which are almost sure to badly infest 

 such grounds. The best hoed crop to grow on such ground, 

 as far as the advantage of giving clean culture is concerned, 

 is the potato ; but the fact that it is a heavy feeder on potash, 

 like the strawberry, must be borne in mind. The best selec- 

 tion of ground, however, that can be made for the strawberry, 

 is that which is taken "right from the green stump." The 

 first cost of fitting such ground is great, but the first year's 

 fruiting wall more than repay the extra cost. 



Ground should be selected from both up-land and low-land 

 when possible, and of a nature to suit the variety of strawberries 

 to be planted; or, when more convenient, select your variety 

 of strawberries according to your soil. 



Such strong growing varieties as the Crescent, Beeder Wood 

 and Warfield, do better on upland shale and rocky soil, while 

 such shy running and heavy foliage varieties as the Bubach, 

 Glen Mary, Ridgeway and Parker Earle do better on heavy soils. 



When fitting the ground for the plants, perfect drainage must 

 be carefully looked after. On low, flat land, both under drain- 

 age and surface drainage must be given ; on up-land good sur- 

 face drainage only is necessary, that the water during the time 

 that the earth is frozen may pass off quickly, before it freezes 

 and smothers the plants. The ground should be back-furrowed 

 into narrow beds like a good road-bed — the highest part in the 

 middle. The kind and amount of fertilizer, as well as the time 

 of application, depends largely upon the condition of the soil, 

 as to its natural richness, and upon the varieties of strawberries 

 to be planted. This q^'^ition of fertilizing is one of the most 



