222 A B C OF STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 



before were present, and we were also honored by the presence 

 of Mr. Nick Ohmer himself, and his good wife ; and last, but 

 not least, his brother, J. P. Ohmer, was on hand. The latter 

 brought a Nick Ohmer strawberry-plant growing in a tub. I 

 thought I had seen some gigantic specimens of Nick Ohmer 

 strawberries and fruit on our own place ; but that plant in the 

 tub "broke the record," in foliage, size ,of leaf, and size of 

 fruit. Three or four great stems of fruit, almost as large as 

 peaches, reclined on the edges of the tub, and made a very ap- 

 propriate object-lesson in letting people know the possibilities 

 of strawberry - growing. A quart of berries stood beside the 

 plant, showing twelve berries making a heaping boxful. Some 

 of you will no doubt recall to mind the fact that J. P. Ohmer 

 is the man who grows strawberries successfully through the 

 sides of a barrel. He told us that, although the barrel cul- 

 ture was a success, the average person would probably be un- 

 willing to take the necessary pains to make it a success. 



GROWING STRAWBERRIES IN A BARREL. 



From Gleanings in Bee Culture, Aug. i, 1899. 



As there has been considerable inquiry in regard to this 

 matter, Mr. J. P. Ohmer, of Dayton, Ohio, the originator of 

 the plan, has sent out a little circular describing the process. 

 Here it is : 



Take any iron-bound barrel except those which have been used for 

 pickels, sauerkraut, or vinegar ; take all hoops off but four ; bore four holes 

 in the bottom. Then space holes around the barrel so that twelve plants 

 will go around it. Five rows high will make sixty plants to the barrel 

 (the fifth row can be placed five inches from top of barrel). Bore two 

 holes, one above the other, and cut out the wood between the two holes. 

 By using a bit 1^ inches, you will have a hole 1} by 3 inches. When you 

 plant, put the plants as near the top of the holes as possible, to allow 

 some for settling. Use clay ground, well mixed with rotten manure. Put 

 two inches of gravel in the bottom of the barrel to keep the drain-holes 

 from getting stopped up. Put in the dirt till about three inches above the 

 first row of holes. Be careful to have dirt not too wet. 



The first row of holes must be 8 inches from the bottom of the barrel. 

 Get in and tramp the dirt solid, then loosen the dirt with a trowel where 

 the plants go ; then plant that row. Spread the roots out well, then put 

 dirt about half way up to the next row of holes; then take a .common 

 drain-tile, 12 inches long by 3 or 4 inches in diameter ; put it in the center 

 of the barrel, and fill the tile with coarse sand ; then fill up the bartel with 

 dirt a little above the next row of holes ; tramp again. Be careful not to 

 move the tile. Cover up the tile, so as not to get any dirt in it. After 



