NOTES FROM LOCAL GROWERS IO3 



Irrigation is very enthusiastically advocated by J. C. Piper 

 of Stratham, who says it has paid immensely ; the crop was 

 much larger and the berries were first class. Varieties like the 

 Crescent maintained their full size until the very last picking, 

 and all the fruit which set ripened into well-developed berries. 

 This may be a surprise to many growers, for it is known that 

 nearly all varieties become smaller towards the close of the 

 season. 



The distances for planting depend upon the soil, growth of 

 the plant, and method of cultivation. Mr. Piper for a while 

 set his plants in rows three, three and one-half, and four feet 

 apart, but last seas'on beds were planted in which the plants 

 were fifteen inches apart, omitting each third row ; also others 

 where every fourth and every fifth row was omitted. No 

 runners were allowed to grow. G. S. Tuttle of Barrington 

 finds it best to set his plants three and one-half by seven feet 

 and placing two or three plants in each hill. The fields are 

 then cultivated both ways by horse power, and after a time the 

 plants are allowed to run, forming rows in which the hills are 

 seven feet apart. Every one of the growers visited is decidedly 

 in favor of clean cultivation. W. H. Allen of Dover says 

 thorough, clean culture upon soil liberally fertilized with a 

 light mulch for winter has given him good fruit every year ; 

 and this seems to express the sentiment of other growers 

 throughout the state. 



Mulching through the winter meets with much favor, and in 

 connection with clean culture and irrigation has made a decided 

 change in the problem of strawberry raising. It has paid as 

 well as irrigation. A plot left unmulched last winter has not 

 yielded one-half the fruit of mulched areas. Although the 

 plants lived, the line of mulch was distinguishable at a distance 

 all through the season, — foliage was weak, pale, and scant ; 

 leaf and berry stalks short and weak; consequently but little 

 fruit. 



As to the varieties, there is a difference of opinion and 

 always will be as long as berries are grown ; but the practical 

 growers quoted agree upon the merits of the following varieties : 



(i.) Bubach, Crescent, Lovett, and Warfield. 



(2.) Greenville, Haverland, and Beverly. 



