The Tingle Nursery Company, Pittsville, Maryland 17 



TIME TO PLANT. Strawberries should be planted in the early spring as that is 

 the most satisfactory time. Just as soon as the weather permits getting the land ready. 

 In the Northern States April, in the Middle States March and early April, in the 

 Southern States from November till April. 



Early planting pays big, the plants start quicker, grow better and make better 

 beds than pants that are set late. And, remember, it costs no more to plant early 

 than it does to plant late, so be sure to have your order in early so that your plants 

 will be right at hand when your ground is ready. We will hold your order and ship 

 just when you need them. It is better to have them a little early than to have them late- 



CARE OF PLANTS. if you are not ready to set the plants when they arrive, 



unpack, separating each variety, open the bunches, dampen the roots up to the crown, 

 but do not wet the leaves. They should then be heeled in, in a V shaped trench and if 

 shaded from the sun they will keep several weeks if necessary. 



SETTING THE PLANTS. Plants should be protected from the wind and sun 

 when planting, and never let the roots become dried out. 



Where commercial fertilizer is used, the rows should be run out three to four 

 inches deep and the fertilizer drilled into these rows and thoroughly worked in so that 

 the plant roots will not come in direct contact with the fertilizer. This is important. 



A trowel, dibble or spade are the most important tools for setting plants. The 

 plants are set in the row with the roots down and the crown level with the surface of 

 the crown. If the roots are not planted straight down the hoe or cultivator will 

 probably work the plants up. It is also important to see that the ground is pressed 

 firmly around the plant and that enough soil is filled in near the crown so that the top 

 of the roots will not be exposed. 



If you broadcast your fertilizer do not use any when planting, the rows can be 

 laid off with a marker and the plants set down the marked row. 



DISTANCE TO PLANT. For the matted row system the rows should be from 

 three and one-half to four feet apart with the plants set from 15 to 24 inches in the 

 row, according to the varieties set. Heavy bedding varieties such as Blakemore, Miss- 

 ionary, Premier, Klondyke and Dunlap should be set farther apart than varieties like 

 Chesapeake, Cooper, and other varieties that make very large plants but not so many 

 of them. You can tell usually by the size of the plant; a big, heavy plant should be 

 set closer than a smaller plant. 



If you use the hill system the rows should be about 30 inches apart one way and 

 12 to 15 inches the other way with the plants set in the check. All runners should 

 be kept cut off. Under this system the berries will be much larger than if grown in 

 the matted row, but it requires much more labor to grow them this way and this is 

 the reason most commercial plantings are grown the matted row way. 



HOEING AND CULTIVATING. Begin hoeing and cultivating soon after the 

 plants are set, with first hoeing be sure to uncover the bud of all plants that may have 

 gotten covered when setting or cultivating. Cultivate and hoe enough to keep the 

 ground from crusting and to keep the weeds and grass down, but do not cultivate or 

 hoe deep enough to disturb the roots. 



When hoeing be sure to see that the plants do not become too thickly crowded 

 in the bed. There is not much trouble this way except with varieties that are heavy 

 plant makers. Where the rows are 3^/^ feet apart we recommend a bed from 15 to 20 

 inches across. We do not recommend too wide beds as they are much harder to pick 

 and the berries are not usually as large. 



REMOVING BLOSSOMS. All strawberry plants begin to bloom soon after 

 being set in the spring and if the fruit is allowed to ripen the plants will be greatly 

 weakened, therefore all blossoms should be removed. This is very important as it 

 may mean success or failure. On everbearing varieties the blossoms should be re- 

 moved until about the first of July, other than this the everbearers are given the same 

 care as the standard varieties. This is one thing that should not be neglected. 



Lot more than expected for the money A Maine customer was surprised 



Peach Bottom, Pa., Sept. 27, 1933. Your strawberry Hallowell, Maine, October 3, 1933. Received the 



plants reached me in perfect shape. Very much stock promptly and found it to be of a very fine 



pleased with them. Lots more than I expected for quality and of a larger size than I really expected, 



the money. Enclosed find another order. I am perfectly satisfied and will surely remember 



Elizabeth R. Bicknell. your in future wants. R. G. Atherton. 



