THE STRAWBERRY APRIL 1906 



reliable advertisements." Like the other 

 advertisers we present this month, Mr. 

 Grecian is one whom we talce pleasure in 

 introducing: to our large and growing 

 circle of Strawberry folk. 



That Family Berry Patch 



NOW or never, at least never so far 

 as this season goes. Soft southerly 

 gales and April's weeping eyes 

 tell us that spring is here, and it warns us 

 that we must get into action if we are to 

 have that long-anticipated, long-prom- 

 ised, long-hoped-for, strawberry bed in 

 our own back yard, 

 growing big, red, 

 juicy strawberries, 

 our very own and 

 thus sure to be big- 

 ger and sweeter and 

 fresher than any we 

 might secure any- 

 where else in the 

 wide world. 



It's astonishing 

 how far away spring 

 seems, when we are 

 sitting about t h e 

 glowing hearth, mak- 

 ing cracker-jack and 

 spinning tales of the 

 past or dreaming 

 dreams of future 

 triumphs. Then, all 

 of a sudden, before a 

 fellow has time to 

 think twice, the snow 

 is gone, the frost is 

 out of the earth and 

 the gentle showers 

 and warm sunshine 

 have worked a 

 miracle more mar- 

 velous than any 

 wizard with his 

 magic wand may 

 ever dare to think of 

 doing, and, presto 

 change! — S p r i n g is 

 here, garbed in her 

 loveliest of costumes 

 and with smile so be- 

 witching and so 

 sweet that all mankind do her homage 

 and take new hope and courage in her 

 royal and inspiring presence. And here 

 she is, in this blessed year A. D. 1906 — 

 but where is that family strawberry 

 patch.'' 



Well, you'll get a few more days of 

 grace if you don't postpone it any longer, 

 for there is time yet in some very exten- 

 sive portions of the country to get in the 

 vines. First thing you do, decide just 

 where you will locate the patch. Very 

 important that, because you will want 

 them near the house for your own con- 

 venience, and, shall we say it.' — to dis- 

 courage those help-themselves fellows to 

 whom a strawberry patch is a temptation 



all too great to be withstood. A word to 

 the wise is sufficient. 



And having the patch decided upon, 

 the ne.xt thing to do is to put the soil in- 

 to condition for the reception of the 

 plants and for their development into 

 splendid fruit-bearing power. First there 

 must go over the entire surface a 

 good heavy dressing of manure — it 

 doesn't matter whether it comes from 

 the cow-stable or the horse-barn or the 

 chicken-coop — any will do the land good 

 and store it with the plant food upon 

 which the vines must feed and grow and 

 produce big crops. This must be well 



A PERFECTLY PACKED BOX OF BERRIES 



worked into the soil before the plants 

 are set. 



Then comes thought of the arrange- 

 ment of the plants. As you are to have 

 only a family patch, you will cultivate 

 with the hoe. This will enable you to 

 place the plants closer together than if 

 you were engaging more extensively in 

 the business and contemplated using 

 machinery. However, you musn't crowd 

 them, for the strawberry is condensed 

 sunshine and air in part and requires lots 

 of both to do its best. Suppose we say 

 that the rows should be thirty inches 

 apart, and that the plants be set fifteen 

 inches apart in the row. This will give 

 you ample room 'o work in and allow air 



Page 77 



and sunshine to reach the plants at all 

 points. 



This brings us to the plants themselves, 

 for, having determined on the size of 

 your plot and the number of rows and 

 the number in the row, you will know 

 exactly how many to order. Need we 

 urge that you get only the best'' We 

 think not; for folk who have the good 

 taste to grow their own strawberries are 

 sure to have the good sense to go about 

 it in the right way. But we warn you 

 that you must not longer delay ordering 

 the plants if you would have those which 

 will give you returns worthy the name. 

 And having good 

 soil and good plants 

 and giving them good 

 cultivation, you will 

 realize the high 

 value and intense de- 

 light of having on 

 your own vines, as a 

 result of your own 

 efforts, an ample 

 supply of the most 

 delicious of fruits in 

 the very best form 

 possible to secure 

 them. No other 

 thing in horticulture 

 compares with it; 

 the cost is nothing, 

 and the pleasure im- 

 measurable. And 

 there is a moral 

 value in thus doing 

 for yourself in these 

 matters that may not 

 he too highly esti- 

 mated, and high 

 physical value in 

 coming in con tac t 

 with mother earth 

 and in the fine exer- 

 cise of the body it 

 involves. We could 

 do no higher service 

 to the world, both 

 town folk and rural 

 folk included, than 

 to impress upon all 

 both the joy and the 

 gain of the family 

 strawberry patch. Don't postpone action 

 another day. Get to work, for, as we 

 have said, 'tis now or never. 



HERE is a note from the breezy up- 

 lands of the inter-mountain West, 

 and it. is so full of enthusiasm and good 

 cheer that we pass it along that others 

 may catch its hopeful spirit and be re- 

 newed and strengthened for the work 

 that lies before them. The writer is J. 

 S. Bonham, of Rigby, Idaho, a subscriber 

 to The Strawberry', and one who knows 

 an opportunity when he sees it. He says: 

 "If I can get a first-class man to help me 

 I shall do a big business here in the 



