Leamon G. Tingle, Pittsville, Maryland 



A Few Suggestions About 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 anysoilif 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 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 a foot apart in the rows, permitting the runners to grow 

 at will. The after-culture consists in keeping the soil mellow and free from weeds 

 by frequent hoeing and cultivation. The Planet Jr. twelve tooth cultivator is a 

 very good tool for this purpose. If you live in the Northern state, where you are 

 subject to severe freezes, I would advise you to mulch your plants. At the ap- 

 proach 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 excellent for this purpose, as the soluble portion leaches 

 into the soil and affords nourishment to the plants, while the fibrous portion re- 

 mains upon the surface as a mulch. Evergreen branches are very useful for hold- 

 ing 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 cultivation are either perfect or imperfect 

 and the varieties named in this catalog are perfect except those marked "Imp," 

 which are imperfect. The flowers of these differ from the perfect varieties in 

 being destitute 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 or flve 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, im- 

 perfect one. It is best always to plant at least three varieties— early, m.edium 

 and late, and you should have some of the fall-bearing varieties also to expand the 

 season of fruiting to its full limits. 



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 likely to find some 

 better than you now have. iNIany 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. Begin planning for it now. 



