240 STRAWBERRIES 



STRAWBERRY SURVEYS, EXERCISES, AND PROJECTS 



1. Soils. — Study the soils of your region as to their suitability for straw- 

 berry growing. 



2. Varieties for the Region. — Make a study of varieties grown in your 

 region. Ask each grower for the best and second best varieties with perfect 

 flowers, and pistillate varieties. Get the dates of ripening. Tabulate the re- 

 sults to show the popularity of each variety. Compare the varieties as to 

 flavor, handling qualities, size, color, yields, disease resistance of plants, etc. 



3. Systems of planting should be studied in the gardens or fields. If the 

 three main systems are practiced by any of the different growers of the commu- 

 nity, a full comparison of the advantages and disadvantages should be made. 



■ Compare the yields, proportion of first grade berries, freedom from culls, costs 

 of picking, etc. Compare them as to the adaptation to the annual mulching. 



4. Projects with strawberries may be either short or long. (1) One form 

 of project may include merely the picking and marketing of one crop. (2) 

 This may be extended to include the annual cultivation, management, mulch- 

 ing, etc. (3) A longer project may extend over two or three seasons from plant- 

 ing time to ending of the patch. 



5. Judging strawberries of different varieties is a good exercise to aid in 

 becoming familiar with different varieties as to size, shape, color, flavor, etc. 



6. Planting strawberries by different systems should be practiced by all 

 students. 



7. Cutting off runners with different hand tools may be tried by each stu- 

 dent until a good comparison can be made. 



8. Starting plants in pots is a good summer exercise in the patch. Plunge 

 small pots of soil near the strongest parent plants. Cause runners to take root 

 in these. Later transplant the potted plants to new garden patches — say in 

 August. 



9. Forcing strawberries in-doors in winter from plants potted in early sum- 

 mer may be tried by those who have favorable conditions. 



10. Strawberry growing contests may be organized among growers or 

 among students. Have the areas and varieties the same in all cases. Let the 

 individuals exercise choice in the methods of planting, cultivation, mulching, 

 etc. 



QUESTIONS 



1. What soils are best for strawberries? Second best? 



2. Mention several perfect-flowered varieties of strawberries for your region. 



3. How can you manage to get imperfect varieties to bear? 



4. Describe the hedge-row system of growing strawberries. 



5. Compare the results in this system with those in the matted-row system. 



6. Give directions for and importance of thoroughly fertilizing strawberry 



plants. 



7. Describe the annual mulching system for the strawberry patch. 



8. Give suggestions regarding the harvesting and handling of strawberries. 



9. What insects and diseases are apt to trouble strawberries? 



References. — U. S. Farmers' Bulletins: 854, Strawberry Culture in 

 Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia; 901, Everbearing Strawberries; 979, 

 Preparation of Strawberries for Market; 1026, Southern Strawberry Culture; 

 1027, Western Strawberry Culture; 1028, Eastern Strawberry Culture; 1043, 

 Strawberry Varieties; 1211, Home Canning. 



