The Planting of the Fruit-Farm 105 



cost was too great and the vineyards have been 

 neglected or abandoned. Nor does it truly pay 

 to set a vineyard unless it is to be cared for cease- 

 lessly, fed bountifully, trimmed wisely, and, in a 

 word, kept at highest production. There are 

 hundreds of acres of such fine vineyards in the 

 Valley and the average yearly retiun — ^gross — for 

 each acre is about one hundred and forty-five 

 dollars. 



Strawberries require well-drained, rich, moist 

 ground. The supreme test is the growth of root, 

 stalk, and leaf, provided the variety is self -fertiliz- 

 ing; if not, two varieties must be set, pistillate 

 and staminate. A large, dark green leaf on a 

 strong leaf -stalk means a large berry or cluster of 

 berries. Irrigation is a temporary soil. The 

 yellow root means health and vigor; the black root 

 means age, weakness, and death. Repeated cul- 

 tivation during the first season means fruit the 

 second and is better than irrigation. Ceaseless 

 hoeing of the strawberry bed raises the price of 

 strawberries. This year's runners are next year's 

 bearing plants. Plant the bed early; plant deep 

 and set each root firmly with soil well pressed about 

 the rootlets. The best strawberry beds are put 

 out on rainy days in April. Late summer or fall 

 planting is a sorry substitute for April setting. 

 Strawberry raising is a special business and he who 

 wotdd succeed may well read the special Straw- 

 berry Bulletins issued by the Experimental Sta- 

 tions. Mulch the vines; keep them cool, moist, 



