11 



Do you recommend mulching? If so, at what seasolf^^Vith whr.t 

 material, and method? 



The gist of the answers here follows: 



George It. L'awes, Enderby: Have had no experience with berries ''or 

 home use or local market. The Magoon and Campbell, with me, bfiar che 

 largest number of big berries and are the best for shipping. I have tried 

 perhaps fifty other varieties and am hoeing them all out. The Campbell 

 bears a light crop of grand berries of large size and quality, late to vory late. 



A. E. Gale, Victoria : I find the Improved Sharpless does best with me, 

 either for home use or local market, but for shipping, the Magoon is the best 

 we have tried so far. We plant in the fall, in October, if the ground is well 

 drained, or in the spring, in April, as soon as the ground is dry chough to 

 work. We plant in rows 3 feet apart and 18 inches apart in the row. Keep 

 all runners cut off and pick off all bloom from spring planting. We keep 

 horse cultivator going at frequent intervals to destroy weeds and retain 

 moisture. Yes, I certainly recommend mulching during the fruiting sen son ; 

 any kind of straw will do, but I prefer clean oat straw. We always put it 

 on from three to ten days before the first berries are ripe. With an average 

 crop the local market is entirely overdone. It would not be wise to encourage 

 planting anything but shipping varieties. 



George E very-Clayton, Burnaby : Your first question re strawberry 

 culture is dependant entirely on local conditions of climate and soil, and can 

 only be answered by a practical test, but should recommend (a) Jocunda or 

 Magoon, (6) Magoon, (c) Clarke's Seedling or Paxton. Have not as yet 

 found a strawberry appreciably earlier than the Jocunda that was worth 

 cultivating. I recommend planting during April, early in the month if 

 season permits. I prefer the hill system of cultivation, planting in ro\vs 3 

 feet apart, plants 15 inches apart (at least) in row. Keep all blossoms and 

 runners cut off first year and cultivate with horse often enough to keep down 

 weeds and prevent soil packing. Have had no experience of mulching, 

 having excellent results without. 



Andrew Strachau, Victoria : As to my opinion of thu best varieties of 

 strawberries and methods of culture for this locality, I may say that, after 

 experimenting with many varieties, the most suitable for this locality are: 

 (.) For home use, the Improved Sharpless; (&.) For local market, Improved 

 Sharpless. It gives a large crop of berries of fine quality and carries its 

 size well through the season. (c.) Shipping; so far the Magoon has proved 

 the most productive of the varieties tested and also given the best satisfaction 

 in distant markets, (d.) The Paxton has also been shipped this year with 

 fairly satisfactory results, but, in my opinion, it is more suited for the local 

 market. I have had the best results from planting in the spring, as early as 

 the ground is in suitable condition, in rows 3 feet apart and plants 18 inches 

 apart in the row. Give clean cultivation and frequent, with a view to con- 

 servation of moisture, especially after rain, to prevent the surface getting 

 caked. I have not experimented with mulching further than straw between 

 rows before picking commences, to keep the berries clean ; this I put on 

 about two weeks before picking commences, and carefully place under fruit 

 and between rows. 



