4. The Strawberry 



The strawberry is the most popular fruit cultivated in Ontario. This is doubtless 

 due in part to the intrinsic value of the strawberry itself, which is one of the most 

 delicious of fruits, but it is believed that the popularity of the strawberry comes largely 

 from the fact that it can be grown by almost every one, as, unlike most fruits, very 

 little land is required to produce sufficient for home consumption. 



Strawberries can be grown in all parts of Ontario where the soil is suitable, hence 

 large quantities are produced and consumed annually, and owing to the difference in 

 the time of ripening between the southern and northern parts of the Province, the 

 season is lengthened very much, and furthermore, the strawberries of one district do 

 not come in such close competition with those from another as they would do if all 

 ripened at the same time. 



Strawberries will succeed on almost any rich, well-drained soil, but the largest 

 crops are, it is believed, produced on a deep, warm sandy loam, which is retentive of 

 moisture. It is important, however, to avoid planting strawberries where water is 

 likely to lie at any time, as surface water is very injurious to the plant, and if water 

 freezes over strawberries in winter they are almost sure to be killed. 



In preparing soil for this fruit, it should be made very rich. There are no records 

 known where land was made too rich for strawberries. There is nothing so good 

 as well-rotted manure for this purpose. Fresh manure is not so good, as it usually con- 

 tains many weed seeds which will germinate after the manure is applied. The manure 

 should be thoroughly worked into the surface soil early in the spring, for if this is not 

 well done the soil will dry out, the conservation of moisture being important in growing 

 strawberries. Strawberries also do well after clover, which in part takes the place of 

 manure. The best time to set out the plants is early in the spring. Fall planting is 

 not recommended, as although there is fair success in wet seasons, in a dry year the 

 plants usually suffer. 



When the ground has been marked off into rows about ZV 2 feet apart with cross 

 rows about 18 to 20 inches apart, the plants are set at the intersections of the rows. 

 The usual practice with large growers is for one person to open a hole with a spade, and 

 another, preferably a boy, to place the plant, the soil being then pressed against the 

 plant with the foot. In smaller plantations, planting with a trowel will be found very 

 satisfactory. The chief essentials in planting are first to have the crown of the plant 

 a little below the surface of the soil when it is pressed down. If the crown comes above 

 the surface of the soil the plant is almost sure to die from drying out, and set too 

 deep the plant is liable to rot. The second important point is to make the soil firm 

 about the plant, thus causing the moisture to rise to the roots. Strawberry plants are 

 almost sure to die, especially in a dry time, if this precaution is not taken. A third 

 essential, is to spread the roots in the cleft made by the spade, as although the plants 

 will live even if this is not done, they will start quicker and thrive better if the roots 

 are properly spread. After 'the plants are set cultivation should be thorough to conserve 

 moisture and encourage the production of young plants early in the season, as the 

 earlier these young plants are produced and become rooted, the larger crop they are 

 likely to bear the next season. 



All flowers should be pinched off the first season, as they exhaust the strength of 

 the plant and delay the production of runners. The most common method of growing 

 strawberries is in the matted row. Grown in this way there should be a row of plants 

 about two feet in width by autumn. During the summer, as runners are made, they 

 should be placed about six inches apart and held with a little soil so as to give the 

 plants the best chance to develop. After a row of the required width has been formed, 

 later plants should, if possible, be cut out by hand and with the cultivator, so that the 

 rows will not become too crowded nor too wide. A full crop should be obtained the 

 second season. Hill culture and narrow rows are recommended in some quarters, but 

 while finer fruit is obtained than by the matted row system, more labor is involved. 



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