so DWYEES GUIDE. 



sub-soil. When grown on land of this kind the fruit is always larger, of 

 better color and flavor besides the plants mature their full crop when 

 thus grown. Strawberies should not be planted on newly ploughed sod 

 ground nor in land that water remains on after a rain. Such land bakes 

 and consequently the soil is coarse and lumpy. Then, of course, it is next 

 to impossible to cultivate such land as it should be. There is no single 

 requirement in connection with trees, plants and vines of such supreme 

 importance as the careful, intelligent and best preparation of the soil for 

 the S'trawberry, with perhaps the possible exception of the asparagus, no 

 fruit is so unsatisfactory and unprofitable when neglected or partially 

 cared for. On the other hand, there is no other tree, plant or vine that 

 is grown in the soil that will respond as liberally to good treatment as 

 the strawberry. No one not well acquainted with their possibilities would 

 think of believing what these plants are capable of producing when 

 grown, cultivated and fruited under favorable conditions. Statements are 

 misleading, deceptive, and often unreliable, particularly when we are 

 not familiar with all the circumstances; therefore we hesitate to relate 

 here in detail some of our pleasant experiences and surprises with the 

 strawberry, lest perchance we might create in the minds of our readers 

 too sanguine expectations from their prospective plantings of this fruit. 

 We will state, however, and without fear of contradiction, that the pro- 

 gressive, up-to-date fruit grower, one who has a thorough knowledge 

 of the needs and requirements of this plant, can one year with another, 

 with a good fair average market and other things being equal, get a net 

 profit of two hundred and fifty dollars from an acre of strawberries. It 

 may seem perhaps, a superfluous waste of time, and space for me to re- 

 mind my readers who have their own gardens of the importance of grow- 

 ing their own fruit. No home garden is complete or properly furnished 

 without a liberal bed of this luscious fruit. All should have at least three 

 varieties: early, intermediate and late, in order to lengthen the season. 

 Aim to have fruit for every meal for six weeks — you can accomplish this 

 purpose without much trouble. 



Fertilizers — If stable manure is to be used, and the ground previously 

 used tor some annual crop is in good fair fertility, it should be applied 

 at the rate of ten to twelve tons to the acre, broadcasting it over the 

 ground directly before the plowing, Unleached wood ashes is very 

 desirable and valuable and it may be used at the rate of two tons to the 

 acre, broadcasting it over the ground before the last harrowing. Then 

 any good complete manure like the Mapes' Fruit and Vine manure can be 

 used at the rate of one ton to the acre, spreading itover the ground likethe 

 wood ashes before the last use of the harrow. But this is not all; no mat- 

 ter which one of the above three best manures you use directly after 

 your plants are set out you should apply a little dressing around each 

 plant. We prefer the complete fertilizer for this purpose and at the rate 

 of six hundred pounds to the acre. Wood ashes is next best for this 

 purpose and should be used at the rate of twelve hundred pounds per acre. 

 Whatever is used should be applied in a ring near to and around the 

 plant. Thus applied they are very beneficial, as the plant food will 

 soon reach the roots with the rain or tillage and start them growing 

 ac once. Hen manure mixed with three parts soil can also be used as a 

 top dressing for Strawberries, at the rate of two tons of the mixture 

 to the acre used as a top dressing before harrowing. Muriate of potash 

 and nitrate of soda can also be used as a top dressing for the strawberry. 

 In using nitrate of soda be cautious in applying it when the foliage is 

 wet from rain or dew. 



How to Plant. — For field culture the plant should be set four feet 



