96 Richard Frotscher^s Almanac and Garden Manual 



PEEPAEING THE LAND. 



All low flat lauds should be well ditched, although the 

 strawberry loves moisture, it is easily drowned out. In choosing 

 a location on higher lands, it should be as near level as possible, 

 consistent with thorough drainage. We can conceive of no better 

 situation for a strawberry farm than the rich hammocks bordering 

 the water courses of our pine woods parishes, and especially on new 

 freshly cleaned lands. In situations of that sort, fruit may be 

 grown of a size and sweetness that would astonish the residents 

 ol our alluvial parishes, besides the soil, if well cultivated, does 

 not suffer so much from the effects of a drouth, and the plants are 

 longer lived. 



PLOWING AND SPADING. 



In small gardens, where it is impossible to use a plow, or where 

 a small bed will suffice for the wants of a family, the spade may 

 be used with good effect. In field culture, however, the turn 

 plow and subsoiler will do equally as good work. The plant 

 loves a deep and rich soil, and the use of the subsoil plow will do 

 much towards mitigatiug the effects of a prolonged drouth. The 

 fertilizing material must be kept near the surface, or not buried 

 over three or four inches beneath. After the ground is well pre- 

 pared, a Thomas smoothing, or a rotary harrow, should be used 

 to thoroughly pulverise the soil. 



SETTING OUT THE YOUNG PLANTS. 



The plants should be set out as soon as possible after they are 

 received from the nursery. Our experience has taught us that 

 more plants are lost annually by keeping them in boxes or tied 

 in bundles, thus causing the crown to decay, than by planting 

 immediately on arrival, regardless of the weather. When one 

 has plants of his own, they should be dug from day to day as 

 wanted. 



When all is in readiness. Lines should be stretched, and the 

 rows made as long as possible, to save labor in cultivation. The 

 roots should be trimmed, and the plants dropped one foot apart 

 in the rows, always keeping on the same side. This may be done 

 by children j careful persons should follow as soon as possible, 

 opening the soil with a stout paddle or steel hand-plauter, press- 

 ing the earth firmly about the plant, always taking care to spread 

 the roots and keep the crown entirely above the surface. More 

 plants are lost yearly from too deep planting than from all other 

 causes combined. 



In our Southern climate the strawberry will (unless the season 

 is extraordinarily cold) grow all winter and produce a fair crop 

 of fruit the following spring; hence we will appreciate the neces- 

 w«ity of keeping the ground clean and free from winter weeds by 

 the use of the hoe and cultivator. Care should also be taken to 

 cultivate lightly and avoid disturbing the roots. 



MULCHING, 



During the winter the materials for mulching must be gathered 



