176 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



THE CULTIVATION OF STRAWBERRIES. 

 HE price of strawberries has come so low as to make it difficult 



for the average man with the average experience to make berry 

 growing pay. Only those living near a good local market or 

 growing a large quantity can make it pay at all. Four things 

 are necessary in growing strawberries successfully. 



First, the man must be thorough going and industrious, not lazy. 



Second, he must have the right kind of preparation of soil. 



Third, he must have the right kind of plants. 



And, lastly, he must put out and care for the young plants properly. 



I want to emphasize this point of thorough cultivation. No use of securing 

 the right soil and the right plants, and then after six or eight weeks of hoeing 

 and care, to allow the ground to grow up with weeds and thistles. We all have 

 seen this kind of strawberry culture. 



This difficulty does not occur with the man who devotes his whole time to 

 this business. 



Very little need be said as to the kind of soil. Strawberries may be grown 

 on either clay or sand, although they will be later on heavy land. 



Ground that has been used for growing potatoes or turnips, or some such 

 crop the year previous, is desirable. When this cannot be had, the ground that 

 is to be used in the following spring should be ploughed, not later than the mid- 

 dle of August, then kept well worked on top until the ground freezes up. Then 

 apply your manure, which should be not less than twenty-five loads per acre. 

 Spread it evenly on the ground, and leave until spring. The manure should be 

 well rotted. Then in the spring plough five inches deep, by which process you 

 have the strength of the manure evenly through the soil, and the young plant 

 will start off vigorously. Work the top well, and finish by rolling. And if you 

 are growing on a large scale, mark with a common corn marker four feet one 

 way and three feet the other. Now secure your plants. It does not come 

 under the head of my subject to tell the kind of berries to grow for profit. But 

 I would insist on securing plants from new vines of one year's growth, and in 

 taking up your plants care should be taken not to break the roots of the plants. 

 A basket should never be used to carry the plants while planting, as the wind 

 dries the roots of the plants much more than when carried in a wooden or tin 

 pail, and in no case should the roots be allowed to dry. A drizzly or damp 

 day is the best for planting. 



I now use a spade for planting, by shoving the spade down about six inches, 

 then shoving the top to and from you until the spade can be drawn out, leaving 

 the ground sufficiently open to admit of the roots being put in straight down. 

 Care should be taken to put the crown of the plant on a level with the top of 

 the ground. 



