90 EXPERIMENTS WITH STRAWBERRIES 



when used in large quantities close to the plant. A thoroughly well- 

 rotted manure is an ideal fertilizer, but where the soil contains plenty 

 of humus, as in the average garden, wood ashes and ground bone 

 give good results. Where wood ashes are not to be depended upon, 

 sulphate or muriate of potash will do as a substitute, using a propor- 

 tionately less amount (ordinarily one-tenth as much). The soil hav- 

 ing thus been plowed and mulched, it is left in this condition until 

 spring. The next step is to fit the land to receive the plants, which 

 is done with the cultivator, harrow, and roller. 



This plan is the one we practise at the station. Strawberries, 

 how^ever, are often planted at other seasons of the year, August being 

 considered by some the best month. What has been said of the 

 proper conditions of soil for the spring planting applies equally well 

 here. The soil should be in condition to receive the plants early to 

 ensure success. A good plan is to use the land from which some 

 hoed crop has been taken. The soil is then in a fine degree of tilth. 

 The white grub {Lachnosterna fiisca) and a few other insects are so 

 frequently troublesome where strawberries follow sod that few people 

 ever practice it. The crop is usually preceded by some cultivated 

 crop such as corn, thus eliminating the trouble from both insects and 

 weeds. A crop of clover or other green manure known to be free from 

 these troubles will, when plowed under, prove of great value to the 

 crop. Coarse manure also may be turned under with good results, 

 provided it is applied early enough to be well decomposed and mixed 

 with the soil by planting time. The objection to manure on account 

 of its contamination with weed seeds is easily overcome by better cul- 

 tivation and preparation before planting. 



Commercial fertilizers are commonly used for strawberries. Where 

 the crop is grown in the rich garden soil, the results are quite marked ; 

 but where grown on a field scale, they are not as valuable as good 

 barnyard manures. No rule can be given for the proper application 

 of fertilizer per acre for successful straw^berry growing. Every soil is 

 necessarily different from every other as regards physical, mechanical, 

 and chemical properties. From study of the soil in question it is 

 thought that with the aid of the following table one can judge from 

 previous experience as to what should be considered a liberal applica-' 

 tion. 



The New York station recommends the following table of fertilizers 

 for the strawberry.* 



f (i). 150 to 300 lbs. nitrate of soda, applied during the growing 



season : or 



or nitroeen. { , \ ^ n i 1 ^ r 



* j (2). 125 to 250 lbs. sulphate 01 ammonia; or 



[ (3). 250 to 500 lbs. dried blood. 



i (i). 550 to 1 100 lbs. bone meal ; or 

 Phosphoric acid. < (2). 2,1S to 750 lbs. dissolved bone, etc.; or 

 ( (3). 450 to 900 lbs. dissolved rock. 



f (i). T40 to 280 lbs. muriate ; or 



Potash \ ^^^' ^^° *° ^^° ^^^' ^"'pliate; or 



1 (3). 550 to iioo lbs. kainit; or 

 ( (4). 1400 to 2800 lbs. wood ashes. 



*New York Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin No. 94, New Series. 



