Hints on Growing Strawberries 
Selecting the ground, culture, varieties, etc. 
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 any 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; orif to be worked by horse and cultivator, have the rows three feet and the 
plants one foot apart in the row. In either case, cut off the runners as they ap- 
pear. 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 piants. At the approach of winter (as soon as the 
ground is frozen sufficiently to support the weight of a horse and cart) cover the 
entire bed with straw or other loose light material. Light strawy manure is ex- 
cellent 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 asa 
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 the spring, just before a rainfall, 
will be found to increase the size, beauty and flavor of the berries. 
Selection of Varieties. The blossoms of all Strawberries in cultiva- 
ti 
ion are either perfect or imperfect and the 
varieties named in this catalog are perfect except those marked ‘‘Imp.’’ whichare 
imperfect. The flowers of these differ from the perfect varieties in being desti- 
tute of stamens, or nearly so, and are unable, therefore, to properly pollenize 
themselves. It is consequently essential, when an imperfect variety is grown, 
that a perfect flowered variety be planted near it in order to properly pollenize 
its blossoms, the proportion being one row of perfect flowered plants to every four 
rows of imperfect ones. When thus properly fertilized, the imperfect varieties 
are often the most productive, and there is really no good reason for the prejudice 
with which some growers regard them. If but one variety be grown, however, it 
should, of course, be a perfect flowered sort and not an imperfect one. It is 
best always to plant at least three varieties—early, medium and late, and you 
should also have some of the fall-bearing varieties to expand the season of fruit- 
ing to its full limits. 
Setting Plants in New Ground, [If you have a piece of land 
that has just been cleared of 
brush, roots, ete., and is well drained, set your plants in this. I prefer this new 
land to any old land that I can get. I expect to have several acres of this ground 
ready to set plants in this spring. There is a mighty big difference in the vitality 
of our heavy, fibrous reoted, well fertilized plants, and those grown on old run-out 
land and sent out by many growers and dealers. A difference, not only inthe size 
and appearance of the plants themselves, but in the increased yield and superior 
quality of the fruit grown from our stock. 
