LEAMON G. TINGLK. PITTSVILLE. Ml). 



STRAWBERRY CULTURE 



Soil — Whether it is for market or for home use, the results obtained 

 will in a preneral way depend on the condition of the soil as to fertility 

 and drainaKe. Any soil that will produce a Kood crop of corn or pota- 

 toes, if sufficiently drained (either naturally or artificially), will pro- 

 duce a good crop of strawberries. A heavy, sandy loam or a light 

 clay loam is preferable for a strawberry patch ; however, good results 

 can be obtained upon the lighter soils, if sufficient care is taken to re- 

 tain moisture. As the strawberry crop is of more value than the ordi- 

 nary farm crop, more care should be taken that the soil is in proi>er 

 condition and supplied with the necessary amount of plant food. Af- 

 ter your ground i.s prejjared thoroughly, it would be best to have it 

 rolled or floated, so as to have an even surface. 



Planting — Spring is the proper time for planting in the northern 

 states. (While a good many plants are set in the fall, and with a rea- 

 sonable amount of success, still the time for growing is not sufficiently 

 long to allow the plants to produce a crop of berries the first year, and 

 the extra expense of cultivation and care does not pay for the outlay.) 

 Set your r)lants just as early in the spring as possible, in April for the 

 northern states and earlier, if possible, in southern. Avoid planting on 

 a dry, windy day. When the plants are being set great care should be 

 taken that the roots are not exposed. Keep the roots in a pail of wat- 

 er, if they are somewhat dry, and in planting see that the moist soil 

 comes in contact with the roots. The distance to plant in the row de- 

 pends somewhat on the variety and also upon the method of cultivation. 

 For the matted row system set the plants about 15 inches apart in the 

 row. For hill culture some set the plants two feet each way while oth- 

 ers have their rows three feet apart and plants 12 to 15 inches in the 

 row. Mark your rows three and one-half or four feet apart. 



Cultivation — Cultivation should commence as soon after planting as 

 possible and continue until fall once a week whenever it is in a suitable 

 condition, and hoe as often as necessary to keep the weeds down. As 

 soon as the blossom stock is large enough to permit of its being done, 

 it should be pinched off. Do not neglect this, if you wish a strong, 

 vigorous growth. Do not let the plants mat too thickly. If they 

 throw out too many runners, some of them should be removed. The 

 plants should be three or four inches apart in the row. This is very 

 essential in producing large crops of berries. The rows should be 

 about 14 inches wide, and when you have secured this, keep off all 

 runners and you will have an ideal fruit row. 



Mulching — As soon as the ground is frozen so as to hold up a team 

 and wagon it is best to mulch. This is not absolutely necessary, but it 

 is a great advantage where straw or anything that can be used for 

 mulch can be had, as it protects them from being hurt by hard freez- 

 ing. In the spring rake between the rows, and it will help to retain 

 moisture and keep the berries clean. 



My Strawberry Plants are all dug from new beds and rows are 

 taken up solid, all those poorly rooted are thrown out, the dead leaves 

 and stems are picked off, roots strair:h*j-»n<?d and tied in bunches of 25 

 Thus the purchaser receives the strongest and best plants made during 

 the scfison of growth. Those are worth much more than plants dug 

 from the alleys. 



Very Important. When strawberry plants are received, if your 

 ground is not ready, or if the weather is dry and windy, do not plant 

 out, but take them from the package, loosen the bunches and heel them 

 to moist soil, firm the ground around the roots and, if dry, water and 

 shade them from the sun, and they will commence to grow. When 

 your ground is ready and the weather is favorable, plant out. Treated 

 in this way scarcely a plant will fail to grow. 



'The matter of buying your plants may look lik« a small matter, 

 but it is an important job because so mucb depends on tbe ngbt kind 

 of plants. No matter bo\v valuable your land — no matter ho\\' mucb 

 you weed. dig. boe or cultivate — no matter bow deep you plow — bow 

 well you make tbe seed bed, bow mucb you disc and barrow or rake 

 yoiT garden — no matter bow mucb tbe sun sbines. or bow mucb rain 

 you get — or bow mucb you irrigate or i^'ater your garden — no mat- 

 ter bow ideal tbe w^eatber conditions may be or bow mucb you fer- 

 tilize or manure tbe soil — and every one of tbese tbings represents 

 real money — tbey are all lost — all wasted — all tbe effort counts for 

 notbing if in tbe first place you don't bave tbe rigbt kind of plants to 

 put in tbe soil. 



IIYHHAI)!/EI> POTATO SKKO 



Grow^ing new and d^tinct seedling potatoes from tbe Seed-Ball 

 seed is intensely interesting. Tbey will be a great curiosity in your 

 garden. Tbis seed will produce many new kinds, colors. sbape.< and 

 qualities. Tbe product will astonisb you. Every farmer, gardener 

 and brigbt boy sbould plant some. Tbey are a.x easy to gro\\' as toma- 

 toot;. Full directions on every packet. 



Packet 15 cts., 2 for 25 cts., 10 for $1. 



