CHAPTER VIII. 



STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 



*V T HE strawberry is one of the most important of the 

 ■*■ small fruits. It will grow with a fair degree of suc- 

 cess on most any soil. A moist, dark, sandy loam is best. 

 Any soil that will grow a crop of corn or potatoes will 

 grow strawberries. The richer the soil the larger the 

 crop. It should be well drained. If the water level is 

 high, the land should be underdrained, otherwise surface 

 drainage will be sufficient. The soil should be thoroughly 

 prepared, thoroughly plowed, heavily manured, and thoroughly 

 harrowed until the surface is fine and mellow before the 

 plants are set. The setting is done either in the spring, 

 summer, or early fall. The early spring is best, unless 

 pot plants are used. In setting,' use only the runners. 

 Take them up with a fork. Pick off old, dry leaves. Use 

 only plants with light colored roots and clip off one-third 

 of them. Do not let the sun shine on the roots. 



For a garden, set the plants two feet by two feet. 

 Make a marker like a rake with the teeth, two feet apart. 

 Mark the land both ways. A man should mark an acre 

 in half a day. The plants are then dropped by boys at 

 each section. They are set by men who pick them up 

 with their left hands and spread the roots in a fan shape 

 between the fingers at the same time opening the hole with 

 the right hand. Eower the plant into the ground with the 

 left hand, press the soil firmly about the roots with both 

 hands, leaving the crown slightly lower than the surround- 

 ing soil. Be very careful not to cover it. One man should 

 set half an acre in a day. If the ground is not wet each 

 plant should receive one pint of water. 



For field culture, the plants are often set three feet 

 apart in the rows, with the rows three to four feet apart. 

 Where pistillate varieties are used it is necessary to have 



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