1894 



(rLEANIN(iS IN BEE CL'LTURE. 



703 



)ut one horse to the big plow, and turned a 

 urrow up to each row, and broke up the mid- 

 lle with a donble-sliovei plow. This buried 

 he weeds, and put the ground in excellent con- 



ition for layering tips. 



Although the ground is very dry we began 

 ettiug tips Aug. 14. We us( d to cover the ends 

 vith a hoe, but had much trouble with the 

 nds growing out. We now take a spade, set it 

 n straight, press forward, put the tip in be- 

 lind, withdraw the spade, and firm the earth 

 /ith the foot. It is a waste of time to pull 

 own and cover tips that have not yet reached 

 he ground, as the wind soon works them loose. 

 ;'he old canes and weak new canes have all 

 >een cut out and burned. When all the tips 

 re set, no more attention is needed until 

 pring. This gives the berry-grower time to 



something else 7 months in the year. 



I teach school, as I have been doing for 30 

 ears. Berries rest me from teaching, and 

 caching rests me from berries. Both are 

 leasant and profitable. I love the work; but 



uth compels me to say that the inspiration 

 aries largely with the cash income. 



The fruit-grower in general owes much to 

 tich men as my friend A. I. Root, who spares 

 either time, money, nor his whep], in findiri 

 lit and testing the newest varieties, and dis- 

 irding. probably, nine tenths of all varieties 

 ivestigated: offers to all the results of his 

 ibor at prices far less, often, than he paid for 

 )rts that proved worthless. A person of limit- 



1 means need make few mi^^takes in getting a 

 art in fruit-growing, if he will only read. 



In the spring we take up «ets as early as pos- 

 ble: trim back the lateral^ from (i in. to 2 ft., 

 icording to size and vigor of cane; plow down 

 le furrow we threw up for winter protection; 

 iltivate thoroughly until the berries are near- 

 ' ripe. The fruit is less likelv to hp sandpd if 

 n more cultivation is siven until after pickinor. 

 The first crop is always much damaged by 

 le low bushes being beaten into the dirt, and 

 le berries becoming sanded. This vear we 

 >ld sandy berries at 2 cts. ppr quart less. Yon 

 m wash them, but thev ni ver look so well, 

 n this account, and because we never get 

 lore than a third of a crop the first vear. I 

 onld never think of dolus as Mr. L. B.Pierce 

 le^ests: Raise only one cron and then plow 

 I'der. W. R. Graxnis. 



Lodi, O., Aug. 1.5. 



tIE STERLING, TIMRRFLT,, AND OTHER STRAW- 

 BERRIES, ETC. 



Friend Root:— On page GGS. Aug. in, you say 

 3U would like to hear from parties growing the 

 terling strawberry. I purchased of you the 

 terling, which, I am sure, is true to name, 

 rowing side by side with a herrv here called 

 hampion. which is largely grown in this nejgh- 

 irliood, I find they are the same berry in fruit, 

 )lor. leaf, and flavor, under differeht names, 

 had them examined by a representative of 

 eter Henderson \- Co. and Mr. E. Durand. an 

 iginatorof many new varieties of strawber- 

 ^s. The Champion was originated from Soto 



years ago. Mr. Durand came to the same 

 inclusion as myself. I find they do excellently 

 ith me in rich heavv soil. 



About the Timbrell. I have this to say: Thev 

 e perfect in every respect hut the color, which 



worse than any berry I have, and T siow 

 ore than thirty varieties. I took a crate of 

 e verv hp<t. went to New York city, and tried 



sell them by their flavor; but every one con- 

 •mned them before they tried them. Our 

 ncy berries are sold by their looks. The 

 imbrell mieht do verv well for private use. 

 'e raised our Timbrel Is in heavy .'^oil. very 

 lavily manured, and mulched with salt hay, 



so that the ground is not at fault. This has 

 been a very bad season for growing plants. 

 W(> liave not had rain of any account ^ince last 

 May. We practice fall planting almost ex- 

 clusively, from about Aug. 1.5 to Sept. 1:5, and 

 can see little difference in the yield the next 

 season. The spring-set plants may have a few 

 more berries, but the fall-set plants have better 

 size. In fall we plant in double rows about a 

 foot apart each way. and always take the 

 plants from the plantings of the previous fall. 

 In that way we always manage to get stronger 

 plants than spring set beds. If we are short of 

 space we plow up an old bed after fruiting, put 

 on fresh manure, and plant new strawberries 

 on the same ground. There are some straw- 

 berry-beds around here where there have been 

 nothing but strawberri''S for the last 20 years. 

 This may not pay in localities where land is 

 cheap; but land here is worth from 1.500 to SIOOO 

 an acre. 



I read your favorable report of the Industry 

 gooseberry. We grow Industry, Triumph. 

 Downing, and Smith's Improved, side by side, 

 but we like Triumph and a seedling of our own 

 best. Thev have a smoother surface, and just 

 as large a berry as the Industry. ]\Iost of'our 

 gooseberries are sold wliPii green, and we never 

 succepd in ripening the Industry naturallv. as 

 they all fall from the bush before being fully 

 ripe, while the other-;, just as large, hang on 

 until ripe. We sold large gooseberries, green, 

 last year, at 20 cts. per quart by the crate, while 

 ihis year the best brought only 14 cts. 



We always read with interest your bicvcle 

 tours, and what you have to sav on fruit and 

 plant rai.sing. Chas. Mo.mm. 



Irvington, N. J., Aug. 19. 



AKAGER 



WHAT SHALL WE PLANT IN SEPTEMBKR? 



I presume tlie very jrencral extremel.v dry weatlier 

 has made erardeners as a rule a, little disheartened; 

 but it would not he stranjre at all if those who keep 

 up their couraa-e. and ffo rig-ht on plantiner a.s if the 

 weather were favorable, should prove to he the ones 

 that reach large profits. Let us see. We can put in 

 Eclipse beets now that will be just right for table 

 use bi'fore they are killed by frost. In a couple 

 of weeks more it will be time to sow seed for cfCh- 

 bage-planis tliat are to winter over in cold-frames. 

 Better have the ground ready, and have it near 

 where there is plenty of water, so as to keep tlie 

 plants watered if it does not rain. 



Veiy large celerj'-plants can still be put out if 

 you liave rich ground, and water to keep them 

 going. In fact, we have an order for ICOf) plants on 

 hand now. to be shipped Monday, Aug. 27. 



Corn .salad may be sown now; anri as it is very 

 hardy it will grow nice salad through the fall, far 

 into the winter, almost without proteetion. 



Now is the time to sow your Grand Kapids lettuce 

 seed in order lo have it ready to market bj' Tlianks- 

 giving time. Start your seed where it can be kept 

 going liy plenty of water. The sub-irrigation plan, 

 as u«ed by the Ohio Experiment Station, works 

 grandly willi lettuce 



All kinds of radislies will jiroduce a nice crop if 

 sown now; but the Chinese Ruse Winter is gener- 

 ally consideicd the finest for lato sowing. 



Siiinach can be sown iill tliirui;li the niontli. If 

 you can mannge to get it almost ready to run up to 

 seed bi'fore enid weather i'onie.«, it will keep grow- 

 ing larger during the cool chilly weather, and post- 

 pone sending np seedsliilks until spring. If you 

 can hit it just right, you may have spinacli almost 

 all winter, almost witlmnt protection. 



Purple-top White Globe turnip will .some'imrs 

 make turm'ps large enough for table use, if sown 

 ou good ground the first of Sei)tember. 



