STRAWBERRY 



STRAWBERRY 



1741 



regular rainfall render summer planting on a large 

 scale an economic possibility. This, the stiff clay soil 

 of the interior, the drier atmosphere and uncertain rain- 

 fall of early autumn, render impracticable. It is hence 

 more economical to reset than to cultivate on the coast, 

 especially as its comparatively subtropical climatic con- 

 ditions tend to produce a vigorous development of the 

 summer- or fall - planted plat by the following spring. 

 But, while the biennial rotation is recommended for 

 the interior of the state, it must not be understood that 

 a new plat is to be established only every two years. 

 The plat runs through two seasons, it is true, but a new 

 one must be set out each year. 



If strawberry growing was commenced in 1899 under 

 a biennial rotation, and the planting effected in Novem- 

 ber of each year, the following diagram would illustrate 

 the necessary succession of plats: 



189 



No. 1, planted November, 1899. 



No. 1, fruited lightly spring, 1900; cultivated through season 



No. 2, planted November. 1900, from new purchased plants. 



1901 



No. 1, fruited main crop, spring, 1901; plowed under Novem- 

 ber, 1901, after resetting No. 3. 



No. 2, fruited lightly spring, 1901; cultivated through season 

 of 3901. 



No. 3, planted November, 1901, from runners of No. 1. 



No. 2, fruited main crop, spring, 1902; plowed under Novem- 

 ber, 1902, after resetting No. 4. 



No. 3, fruited lightly, spring, 1902, and cultivated through 

 season. 



No. 4, planted November, 1902, from runners of No. 2. 



And so on, indefinitely. In this way, while each plat 

 runs two years, that is, biennially, a new plat is reset 

 every year, that is, annually; yet the rotation must of 

 necessity be termed biennial, though only one market- 

 able crop results. And this would be equally true for a 

 similar rotation where the planting was done in Feb- 

 ruary or March instead of November, although no crop 

 not even a light one could be obtained the same 

 spring. Of course, if a plat is reserved for resetting, 

 after it has borne its main crop, it must be cultivated, 

 more or less at least by hand weeding to prevent it 

 from becoming too foul during the second summer; but 

 the process of thinning out and the careful cultivation 

 necessary for a crop expected to make a paying return 

 in fruit, are eliminated. 



The triennial rotation is followed when two "main" 

 or " money " crops are secured from a plat before its 

 abandonment, and the perennial system when the plat 

 is suffered to bear as long as it proves profitable. 



The "matted row" system stands successfully the 

 test of practical experience in the South. "Stool cul- 

 ture," however perfect or ideal in theory, can be made 

 profitable only under exceptional conditions. Under 

 ordinary circumstances it cannot resist the crucial test 

 of a prolonged drought. H. N. STARNES. 



Strawberry Culture on the Plains. - The fact that 

 the Strawberry has hem growing wild from time out of 

 mind in the prairie regions of North America suggests 

 that it may be cultivated there with sin-cess, and the 

 thousands of car-loads of delicious berries annually pro- 

 duced in those regions are positive proof of it. The Straw- 

 berry did not grow naturally in all sections or soils. Imt 

 chiefly in the moist creek and river bottoms and along- 

 the margins of the woodlands. The cooler climatic con- 

 ditions of the northern sections are more conducive to 

 the growth of wild Strawberries than those in the South ; 

 for instance, the prairies of Minnesota grow more thrifty 

 and larger berries than those of Texas. Under cultiva- 

 tion the Strawberry is somewhat subject to the same 

 conditions as when growing naturally, but the principle 

 of conservation of moisture by tillage has enabled man 

 to do much that nature could not, in growing Straw- 

 berries. Water is most essential in the culture of this 

 fruit. The soil should not be wet, but it must be moist 

 or the plants will not thrive; nor will they bear fruit 

 abundantly or of good size and quality with a meager 

 supply of water. During the fruiting season there is a. 

 heavy draft upon the plants for water with which to fill 

 the berries to their proper size. Over most of the Plains 

 region there is a sufficient amount of rainfall to produce 

 good crops of Strawberries in ordinary seasons, pro- 

 vided proper care be given to tillage. Nearly all the 



2427. Fancy packing of Strawberries, each quart wrapped 

 in paper ; a picking stand on the left. 



failures to grow reasonably good crops are due to ne- 

 glect of this all-important matter. The drier the cli- 

 mate or the season the more heed should be given to 

 tillage. 



The mere setting of plants and giving them ordinary 

 care is not sufficient for the production of a really profit- 

 able Strawberry crop in the open prairie country. It may 

 suffice where the rainfall is not only abundant but regu- 

 lar; but where the rains are fitful and often very scant, 

 especially in the latter part of the summer, this will not 

 do. The tillage should not be deep, but very frequent. 

 Once each week during the growing season will be suffi- 

 cient. The finer the surface soil is pulverized, the less 

 water will escape from the subsoil, and this is the prin- 

 cipal point to be attained so far as the purposes of til- 

 lage are concerned. Rich soil is beyond doubt one of 

 the prime requisites of Strawberry culture. This is not 

 difficult to find in most parts of the prairie regions. 

 Some of it lies too flat for the best results and some is 

 too steep, but very little is either too stiff or too sandy. 



The Strawberry is especially adapted to field culture. 

 As the Plains country slopes up to the Rocky Mountains 

 the climate becomes drier until there is so very little 

 rain that nothing but a scant native vegetation will grow 

 without irrigation. The soil is for the most part rich 

 enough for Strawberries, and where water is applied in 

 proper quantity as fine berries can be grown as in any 

 part of the humid regions. As a matter of fact, there 



