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THE GENESEE FARMER. 



IBnrtiniltiirnl l)r|inrtnirni 



CONDUCTED BY T. BARRY. 



burr's new pine. Fior. 1. 



STRA^VBERRIES. 



The strawberry is a fruit tliat almost every man wlio has a garden cultivates to some 

 extent. No section of the country is so cold or so -warm as to render its successful cul- 

 ture impossible, or even difficult. It is a fruit, too, that requires comparatively a small 

 space — a couple of rods of ground being sufficient for a small family. It also yields 

 immediate returns — the plantation of this season giving a full crop next. It requires 

 good culture and treatment ; but this is so simple and so easily given, that it is beyond 

 no man's reach. Great attention has been given to this fruit 

 within a few years. The value of varieties has been well 

 tested, and multitudes of experiments have been made in its 

 cultivation, so that cultivators have all necessary information 

 within their reach. The horticultural periodicals abound 

 with instructions as to how, and when, and what to plant; 

 but for the benefit of those who may not have had oppor- 

 tunities of seeing these, we will briefly point out the sub- 

 stance of what we conceive to be the proper course for 

 beginners. We will suppose that a strawberry plantation is 

 to be made the ensuing spring. 



1st. The ground (if not done last autumn) must be trenched 

 eighteen inches or two feet deep, as soon as it is dry enough 

 to work, turning in a liberal supply of old well decomposed 

 manure — say at least a cart load to a square rod. AVhen 

 the ground has been trenched thus, it should all be turned over again, so as to pulverize 

 it and mix well all parts of the soil and manure. When this is done, rake off and level 

 the surface, and it will be ready for the plants. 



2d, Procure good, strong, well rooted runners, or transplanted runners of last season. 



riant in rows, say three feet apart, the plants 

 eighteen inches apart in the rows, for all the sorts 

 with large foliage ; the wood strawberries (^Al- 

 2i>ines,) may be six inches closer. 



3d. Keep the ground clean and well hoed as 

 an onion bed all summer, and cut off all runners 

 as fast as they appear, unless wanted to increase 

 the variety, and then only two or three should be 

 allowed on each plant. In the autumn the plants 

 will be luxuriant and large, covering half the 

 ground, and in a fine condition to give a good 

 crop next season. In dry seasons, mulching with 

 a little tan bark, saw-dust, or old manure, will 

 assist their growth very much. 



4th. Wintering. — In many districts no winter 

 protection is needed, but as a general thing a 

 coat of three or four inches deep of straw or leaves, 

 protecting the plants against the thawing and freezing of winter, is found very useful, 

 gi-eatly augmenting the vigor and productiveness of the plantation the following season. 

 We aJways do it here at Rochester. 



hovey's seedling. Fig. 2. 



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