LEAMON G. TINGLE, PITTSVILLE, MARYLAND 



Some Planting Suggestions 



All varieties of the Strawberry give the greatest yield and the largest 

 berries when grown in rich soil; hence no pains should be spared in preparing 

 the bed carefully before planting, by digging or plowing deeply and turning 

 under a liberal application of well-rotted manure. Pulverize the surface soil 

 thoroughly with harrow and rake, and if a top-dressing of ground bone can be 

 applied, it will be found a great benefit at fruiting time. Select a location 

 where the soil is moist and deep if possible — moist and yet where water does 

 not stand near or upon the surface. In such a soil well-enriched, Strawberries 

 delight and give marvelous results. They will, however, succeed upon soil if 

 well manured. Strawberries do not succeed when planted in shady locations; 

 hence in selecting a plot for them be careful to avoid places that are shaded 

 by trees. 



For hill culture in the family garden, set plants in rows two feet apart and 

 the plants fifteen inches apart in the rows; or if to be worked by horse and cul- 

 tivator, have the rows three feet and the plants one foot apart in the row. In 

 either case, cut off the runners as they appear. If to be grown in matted rows, 

 plant in rows three and one-half or four feet apart and the plants fifteen inches 

 apart in the rows, permitting the runners to set in the row so as to be about six 

 inches apart each way. The after-culture consists in keeping the soil mellow 

 and free from weeds by frequent hoeing and cultivation. If you live in the 

 North, where you are subject to severe freezes, I would advise you to mulch 

 your plants. At the approach of winter (as soon as the ground is frozen suffi- 

 ciently to support the weight of horse and cart) cover the entire bed with 

 straw or other loose light material. Light strawy manure is excellent for this 

 purpose, and the soluble portion leaches into the soil and affords nourishment 

 to the plants, while the fibrous portion remains upon the surface as a mulch. 

 Evergreen branches are very useful for holding the mulch in place and are of 

 themselves a protection. When the plants start growth in spring, rake the 

 mulch from off the plants sufficiently to permit them to push through it, and 

 leave it on the surface about the plants to protect the fruit and keep it clean 

 and also keep the soil moist and cool. An application of unleached wood-ashes 

 or muriate of potash along the rows very early in spring, just before a rainfall^ 

 will be found to increase the size, beauty and flavor of the berries. 



Strawberry Plants for Fall Planting 



My sales of Strawberry plants in the fall are rapidly increasing. Most plant 

 growers refuse to dig any plants before the first of November, because for every 

 plant big enough to sell others are destroyed that would be good ones later. 

 Our soil and conditions being especially adapted for an early growth, we 

 usually begin shipping about October 1st and sometimes a little earlier. If you 

 are interested in fall-planting you should have a copy of my fall price-list, which 

 will be ready to mail about September 1st, each year. 



Testing New Varieties 



By all means have a small plot of ground for the purpose of testing the 

 new varieties. Each season get a few of each of the new kinds that appeal to 

 you. By doing this you are not investing a lot of your money in something 

 that may not suit your soil or locality, while among the new ones you are like- 

 ly to find some better than you now have. Many large growers say they 

 could not afford to be without their testing plot. This is not an expense as 

 you will get enough berries from it the first season to pay the expenses. Make 

 a start this season. 



