160 K. H. AGR. EXPERIMEXT STATION". [Bulletin 137 



I. CULTURE. 



Selection and Preparation of Soil. 



In selecting laud for strawberiy growing, avoid very sandy as 

 ■well as very heavy and poorly drained soil. A medium loam 

 that is deep and retentive of moisture yet well drained will give 

 best results, Sandy soil with a southern exposure will produce 

 an early crop, but is usually lacking in moisture when most 

 needed, therefore requiring special attention in the way of ir- 

 rigating and mulching. Cool, heavy soil with a northern ex- 

 posure should be selected if a late crop is desired. Low land, if 

 well drained, may be used. In such a location there is, how- 

 ever, greater danger of frost injurj^ of the blossoms than on 

 higher slopes. Sod land is undesirable for two reasons ; first, 

 because of its poor physical condition and second, danger of 

 damage by the white grub (Lachnosterna fusca), which is usu- 

 ally abundant on sod land and very destructive in a newly set 

 strawberry field. Land that has been planted to hoed crops, to 

 which liberal annual applications of stable manure have been 

 applied for one or more years and kept free of quack grass and 

 weed seeds by frequent cultivations, may be considered as well 

 prepared for this crop. Further improvement in the case of 

 heavy soil may be made by seeding to clover about July 20, 

 following the harvest of early peas, the clover to be plowed un- 

 der the following spring just before setting the strawberry 

 plants. Thoro preparation of land in the way of plowing and 

 harrowing will repay all extra expense. If stable manure is to 

 be applied to land that has been cropped the previous season, 

 it should be plowed deeply, the manure then spread and har- 

 rowed in, followed by a second plowing of medium depth and a 

 very thoro harrowing. By this method a thoro preparation is 

 given, while the manure is properly placed to feed the straw- 

 berry plants, which root deeply, rather than the young weeds. 



Fertilizing, 



The amount of stable manure or chemicals to be applied will 

 largely depend upon the past treatment of the land. If in a 



