TRUE-TO-XAME SMALL FRUIT PLANTS 



33 



The above cut shows the 1 o vnsend way to handle plants when they are received and 

 you are not ready to set plants for several days. Plants nicely heeled in 

 can be kept for weeks. 



CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 



(Continued from page 32) 



MATING VARIETIES. This para- 

 graph should be especially noted by all. 



Strawberry plants are divided into two 

 sexes, male and female, or perfect and im- 

 perfect blossoms as the varieties are listed 

 in our books. The perfect flowering sorts 

 will produce as well without the imperfect 

 flowering sorts, but should you plant all 

 imperfect sorts, you would have indeed a 

 very poor crop, if any crop at all. Most 

 catalogue writers recommend planting per- 

 fect varieties of the same season, with the 

 imperfect sorts, same rows of each, or two 

 rows of perfect flowering to three or four 

 imperfect and so on across the field or gar- 

 den. 



For best results we have found that 

 where the most is to be gotten from an im- 

 perfect variety, (and indeed they are our 

 very best producers when properly mated), 

 is to set an imperfect variety between two 

 different perfect varieties, on one side 

 should be a perfect variety that opens 

 blooms a few days in advance of the im- 

 perfect sort, and on the other side a per- 

 fect sort that will continue to bloom until 

 after the blooming of the imperfect sort. 

 When a trio of this sort is set, you are sure 



of getting fertilization for all blooms of the 

 imperfect sorts, hence the larger crop to be 

 expected and more uniform shape berries. 

 Let us illustrate. Commence by setting 

 two rows of Dr. Burrill, four rows of Kel- 

 logg Prize, and two rows of Chesapeake, 

 and continue across the patch in this man- 

 ner. If other cultural methods are follow- 

 ed success is sure with the above varieties. 

 We shall at all times be pleased to make the 

 selections of the perfect sorts when imper- 

 fect varieties are wanted, for main crop. 



REMOVING BLOSSOMS (Very Im- 

 portant). 



All strawberry plants whether standards 

 or ever bearing begin to blossom very soon 

 after being set in the Spring, and these 

 blossoms should be removed as soon as 

 they are all open by cutting off the fruit 

 stems with a sharp knife or shears. Noth- 

 ing weakens a plant more than letting the 

 fruit ripen on it when it is young. 



It requires but a few hours to remove 

 the blossoms from an acre and that will 

 mean your success in growing a strong, 

 healthy crop of plants that will prove fruit- 

 ful the following crop. 



Most of the ever bearing sorts require 

 the removing of blossoms about twice dur- 

 ing the first season before berries should be 

 allowed to ripen. Aside from this fact ever 



