W. F. ALLEN, Strawberry Specialist. SALISBURY, MARYLAND 



the roots set in the very best of the soil. Of all things see 

 that the drainage is good, and that no water stands on the 

 soil, after a rain, for any length of time. 



One thing to remember in the preparation of the soil 

 is that the soil cannot be too fertile for the Strawberry, 

 and that the richer it is made, and the more humus we 

 get into it, the better the crop will be. Hence, it is well 

 for the Strawberry-grower to look ahead for years and 

 keep preparing land for the purpose by growing legume 

 crops like cowpeas, to increase the humus content in the 

 soil, for every commercial grower must be always pre- 

 paring new locations for his plantations as the old ones 

 are turned down. This getting of vegetable decay into 

 the soil is the most important matter in its improvement 

 for any crop, and especially for the Strawberry, for the 

 more humus we get into the soil the better it will retain 

 moisture, and moisture is as important to the Strawberry 

 as anything else, for no matter how you fertilize, if the 

 soil dries out, the fertilizer cannot be dissolved, and plants 

 cannot get it unless it is dissolved. 



Stable manure furnishes a large amount of vegetable 

 matter to decay in the soil and form humus, and hence 

 it is of especial value for the Strawberry. The main ob- 

 jection to it is that it will bring in weeds and grass. Since 

 the Strawberry fruit is formed almost entirely through 

 the assimilation of carbon from the air by the leaves, the 

 crop of fruit has hardly any exhaustive effect on the soil, 

 and the growth of a Strawberry plantation will enrich the 

 land when plowed under. But as strong growth and 



healthy leaves are essential to the making of the fruit, 

 the soil must be fertile. Where stable manure is not 

 accessible in sufficient amount, commercial fertilizers 

 must be resorted to. In fact, stable manure alone is not a 

 complete fertilizer for the berries, as it furnishes an excess 

 of nitrogen and should be supplemented with phosphoric 

 acid and potash, for any excess of nitrogen, while making 

 a great leaf-growth, tends to make the fruit too soft for 

 long shipment. 



The large growers of the Atlantic coast, as a rule, use 

 commercial fertilizers entirely in the production of Straw- 

 berries. Methods of using these vary. The best growers 

 have found that a moderate fertilization at planting, and 

 a heavier one after the first blooming, gives the best fesults. 

 That is, after the fruiting season is over a heavy appli- 

 cation of fertilizer and clean cultivation will make stronger 

 crowns for the next season's fruiting, and strong crowns 

 are essential to the making of a good crop. Therefore, 

 in the preparation of the soil for planting it is not well to 

 have too large an amount of caustic fertilizer in direct 

 contact with the roots; a large application can be safely 

 used by the plants after the\^ have gotten a strong hold 

 in the soil and the fertilizer is applied as a top-dressing. 

 The best commercial mixture for Strawberries should be 

 made at home, and not bought ready mixed. The follow- 

 ing is excellent: 



Acid phosphate (i6 per cent), 900 lbs.; nitrate of soda, 

 100 lbs.; fish scrap, 600 lbs.; sulphate of potash, 400 lbs. 

 This will make a ton. Harrow in, before setting the 



