STRAWBERRY— TREATMENTS OP PLANTATIONS 



1921 



IT. ANTS PER ACRE. — (Coniluuoii) The method of applying the water var- 



Dlstance. No. Plants jgg jjj different sections. The majority 



1'4X2 feet 17,424 ... o *,,,.,.., ^ j 



1 Vi xs feet 11,016 Of the growers of the Northwest do not 



J S?".!^^ J"" J?'?on advocate flooding. The most satisfactory 



1 ^, x2 feet 14,.'> JO •' 



lVjx2w. feet 11,616 way is to lead the water close to the rows 



1 2"'3xl 2/3^'feet !!!!.!...!!!.!!!.!... l.'')!681 'o small rills. Better results are ob- 



1 2 '3x2 feet ^r't?? tained by running a larger amount for 



2x~lM! feet ........ ...]..\ ..\\\l 14!520 a less time. While on the other hand, 



o^T,,j_ j|^' ^s'ri^ '■^'^ coarse open soil should receive copi- 



2x.s feet 7,260 ous waterings of shorter duration. Dur- 



2Vix2ii feet 8.604 • t,, , ^ , x, , , 



2 14x2 '4 feet 7,744 i°S the heat of the summer water has a 



2V.x^w" feet 6069 pooling effect on the soil. Fall irrigation 



2i|x.3 " feet ..!.!....!!...!.!!!!.!! .'i!.so.s is practiced in some sections where there 



3x3 feet ]\ ..\. .....' ....... ..l.\. 4^840 '^ ^ possibility of a dry winter. 



TREAT5ra;\T OF PLANTATION IN TREATMENT OF PLANTATION IN 



IRRIGATED REGIONS NON-IRRIGATED REGIONS 



The Young Plants. While the straw- The Young Plants. Just as soon as the 

 berry is a plant that requires a great young plants are set out in the spring 

 deal of water, the tendency is to irrigate cultivation should begin. This should 

 entirely too much. The practice of al- be continued whenever needed up to the 

 lowing the water to run day and night first of September, as it Is very essential 

 should not be tolerated, since in this way that strong healthy plants be developed 

 many of the elements necessary for plant the first year. Plants that are neglected 

 growth are washed out of the soil and during the first season seldom amount 

 other injuries result. The first summer to much. It is highly essential that the 

 after the plants are set they should be soil be kept mellow and a dust mulch 

 irrigated as little as possible. When the preserved in order to conserve the moist- 

 ground shows signs of drying out the ure. One of the best implements for this 

 first application should be made. The work is a wheel hoe or Planet Junior, 

 number of applications, however, should This should be run over the plantation 

 be governed largely by the moisture re- every ten days or two weeks or following 

 quirements of the different soil types. A every hard rain, as this keeps the soils 

 few copious waterings, followed by fre- loose, friable, and prevents a crust form- 

 quent stirring of the soil to conserve ing. The weeds should never be allowed 

 moisture, is better than many shallow to get a start in the plantation as they 

 irrigations. Intensive cultivation should rob the plants more or less of the ele- 

 be practiced after every application. raents necessary for plant growth. How- 



The Bearing Plants. For early berries ever, if the grower begins operations just 



the water should be kept off just as long as soon as he is able to work the soil in 



as possible in the spring. An application the spring little trouble will be exper- 



of cold water tends to chill the ground. ienced. 



thus retarding to a certain extent the There appears to be some difference of 



ripening of the berries. Cultivation opinion regarding the summer, treatment 



should continue until the plants begin of young plants. Some growers say to let 



to throw out blossoms, then it should the plants bear the first season, but the 



cease. During the fruiting season fre- majority are discouraging this method, 



quont irrigations are advised. "For bear- For the perfect development of the plant 



ing plants I irrigate as soon as the no buds or blossoms should be allowed 



ground begins to get dry, and after they to develop the first season, as the plant 



begin to ripen I water two or three times thus has a better chance of building up a 



a week, as it takes water to make big good strong crown and root system. Just 



berries." as soon as a bud appears it should be 



3—38 



