STRAWBERRY PLANTS OF QUALITY 9 



W M. BELT Whenever quality and large size are considered, Wm. Belt ranks 

 with the best. Is probably the most popular fancy variety and al- 

 ways brings fancy prices. Does best in the middle and northern states. It is quite pro- 

 ductive of extra large berries that are somewhat irregular in shape; color a beautiful 

 bright red, firm, and of the very best quality. Largely planted in many sections, and if 

 you have a market that will pay a premium for quality Wm. Belt is the variety to plant. 



Everbearing Varieties 



FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT 



I believe there are possibilities in the everbearing (or more strictly speaking fall 

 bearing) strawberries that are overlooked by a great many growers who could make a 

 nice profit from the planting of everbearers. If you live near a summer resort where 

 the berries could be marketed two or three times a week, or near some good sized .town 

 they would probably buy all you could supply or if you are situated so you cannot do this 

 and live within 150 or 200 miles of one of the large wholesale markets, where they could 

 be picked one day and sold the next morning, believe you would find this a paying prop- 

 osition. Most of the everbearers grown in this section are marketed this way as we are 

 near enough to the markes of Baltimore and Philadelphia that they can be picked in the 

 afternoon and sold the next morning, and generally find a ready sale at prices that leaves 

 a nice profit for the grower. 



How many berries will a plant produce? This depends on soil fertility, care, season, 

 spacing of plants, etc. Generally speaking, if conditions are favorable, they will produce 

 about one quart of fruit per plant. Some have secured much better yields than this but 

 the average is somewhat less. This is the fall crop the same year they are planted but 

 the plants will produce a full crop of fruit in the spring, and also another crop the 

 following fall that will compare favorably with the first fall crop if given good care. 

 Many growers make enough, and more than enough, to pay the expense of growing them, 

 from the sale of fruit the first fall and still have their spring and following fall crop 

 which is practically all clear profit. 



There is no secret to growing them, just plant like you do the regular spring varie- 

 ties, except that blossoms will have to be removed longer, or until about the first to mid- 

 dle of July, when they can be allowed to ripen fruit and will fruit from then on to freez- 

 ing weather. It is well to keep in mind, especially when growing everbearing straw- 

 berris, that the better the ground, the better the care and attention, the better the crop 

 of fruit will be and larger the profit. 



In planting everbearers I would suggest using the hill or narrow row system of culti- 

 vation, unless a heavy spring crop is wanted, that is setting the plants closer and keep- 

 ing all, or nearly all, of the runners pinched off as the plants will make larger crowns, 

 and bear more fruit in the fall than if allowed to make a lot of runners. A good plan 

 is to allow each plant to put out two runners, one on each side of the plant and each 

 runner to make one plant and these plants spaced equal distance apart, which, if plants 

 were set 15 inches apart would make one plant for every 5 inches down the row. If 

 wider bed is wanted, each plant can be allowed to put out four or six runners and each 

 runner to make two or three plants each and these spaced alternately about 6 or 8 

 inches apart would give sufficient width of bed even for good crop the following spring. 



MASTODON 



MADE EVEKBEARERS PROFITABLE 



Is still the most popular and extensively planted of all the everbearing varieties hold- 

 ing about the same position among the everbearers that Premier has among the spring 

 varieties. Gem from my experience is a close second and would recommend giving it a 

 thorough trial, but Mastodon has been tried for several years and is a proven money 

 maker. Plants set this spring should begin to bear fruit soon after being set but for best 

 results blossoms should be removed about first of July when they can be allowed to fruit 

 and from then on to freezing weather will have blossoms, green berries in all stages of 

 growth and ripe berries at the same time. Berries are large size, fairly firm and of good 

 quality. Another reason that makes Mastodon a safe variety to plant is that it will not 

 only produce a big fall crop but will bear a heavy crop in the spring, ripening in mid- 

 season, that will compare very favorably with most of the spring bearing varieties. The 

 plants are large with long deep roots that enable them to withstand drouth. The foliage 

 is low and spreading which protects blossoms and berries from frost and cold in the fall. 



