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Suggestions to Improve Grower- Beekeeper Relations 

 Have definite agreement as to: 



1. Number of colonies wanted. 



2. Strength of colonies, 



3. When colonies are to be moved in and out of orchard. Beekeeper 

 needs 48-7 2 hours notice. 



4. Distribution of colonies in orchard. 



5e Avoidance of use of harmful pesticides while bees are in orchard, 

 6. Rental price with terms of payment. 



I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 



GET GOOD STRAWBERRY PLANTS IN WELL PREPARED SOIL 



John S, Bailey 

 Department of Horticultural 

 Science 



The importance of starting with good strawberry plants is becoming increas- 

 ingly more evident" Good plants are not only free from disease but also in good 

 physical and nutritional condition (well developed plants with a large crown and 

 root system, high in food reserves and mineral nutrients). 



In a recent Report of the Committee on Deciduous and Small Fruits of the 

 Council on Fertilizer Application, it is stated, "The pre-planting application 

 of fertilizers is gaining acceptance among the growers of small fruits, especially 

 strawberries. The sensitivity of the strawberry to nitrogen and potassium salts 

 is well kriown. In order to avoid this effect, the green manure crop is fertilized 

 heavily the season before the land is to be set with strawberries. This system 

 seems to work very well and its use will probably increase." This statement is 

 worthy of more attention and more thought. 



A strawberry plant grower of my acquaintance has for years made a practice 

 of turning under large amounts of heavily fertilized green manure crops before 

 setting strawberry plants, and subsequently applying no more fertilizer. The 

 result has been unusually large, vigorous daughter plants. 



In some of our experimental work with strawberry plants, we started out with 

 virus-free plants which were unusually large and vigorous. There was no response 

 to a large variety of fertilizer treatments. These plants were probably so high 

 in nutrient reserves as a result of unusually high soil fertility in the nursery 

 that they needed little, if any, fertilizer the following year. 



This all points to two very important practices in starting a strawberry bed. 

 First, get your soil well prepared by turning under heavily fertilized green 

 manure crops (or farm manures, if available). Second, obtain good vigorous plants 



