Methods of Culture in the South. 133 



the ground between the bearing plants became parched, hard, and in 

 many instances full of weeds that had been developing through the long, 

 mild spring of this region. Now I am satisfied that if he, and all others 

 in this region who adopt the narrow row system, would loosen the 

 ground deeply with a subsoil plow early in the season, before the plants 

 had made any growth, and then stir and pulverize all the surface 

 between the plants in the rows, they would increase the size and quan- 

 tity of the berries at least one-third, and in many instances double the 

 crop. It would require a very severe drought, indeed, to injure plants 

 thus treated, and it is well known, also, that a porous, mellow soil will 

 best endure too frequent rains. I have sometimes thought that light 

 and air are as indispensable to the roots of plants as to the foliage. 



The winter mulch need not prevent this spring culture. Let the 

 men begin on one side of a field, and rake inward until half a dozen 

 rows are uncovered. Down through these the subsoil plow and the 

 cultivator can pass. Then the hay can be raked back again as the 

 summer mulch, and a new space cleared, until the whole field is culti- 

 vated and the mulch left as it was before. 



Now, however, it is not a surface like hard-pan that is covered, but a 

 mellow soil in which the roots can luxuriate. 



Mr. Young uses fertilizers, especially those containing ammonia, only 

 to a limited extent, believing that while they undoubtedly increase the 

 size of the fruit, they also render it soft and unfit for long carriage, and 

 promote an undue growth of vine. This theory is true, to a certain 

 extent, but I think the compensating benefits of fertilizers of almost any 

 kind far outweigh the disadvantages. At his distance from the market, 

 firmness in the berry is essential, but I think he will find this quality is 

 dependent more upon the weather and the variety than upon the fertilizer. 

 Of course, over-stimulation by hot manures will always produce an 

 unwholesome, perishable growth, but a good coat of well-rotted compost 

 scattered down the rows, just before they receive their fall or spring culture, 

 would be exceedingly beneficial in nine cases out of ten. I most heartily 

 agree with him, however, that all fertilizers containing potash are pecul- 

 iarly adapted to the strawberry. 



Having considered his methods of planting and culture, we now 

 return again to the culminating period in which the hopes and labors of 

 the year are rewarded or disappointed. When we awoke the morning 

 following our arrival, we found the landscape obscured by a dense fog. 

 Through this, in dim, uncertain outline, throngs of pickers were streaming 

 out from the city to Mr. Young's place and the strawberry farms beyond. 



