Strawberries 



Strawberries give the greatest yield and the largest berries when grown in rich, well-prepared soil; 

 hence no pains should be spared in preparing the bed carefully before planting, by digging or ploughing 

 deeply and turning under a liberal coating of well-rotted stable manure. Harrow or rake down finely, and 

 if at this time a top dressing of ground bone can be appHed, it will be found a great benefit at fruiting time. 

 Before planting, the roots of the plants should be shortened about one-third, which will cause them to emit 

 a profusion of new fibres. In planting, expose the plants as httle as possible to the wind or sun. Do not 

 plant ver>' deeply, but be sure and press the soil firmly about the roots. Should the weather be warm, 

 shade valuable plants for a few days with a handful of coarse fitter, etc., over each plant. For hill culture 

 in the family garden, set in rows two feet apart and the plants fifteen inches apart in the rows, cutting off 

 all runners as they appear. For field culture, where they are to be worked by horse and cultivator and 

 permitted to form matted rows, plant in rows three feet apart with the plants one foot apart in the rows, 

 requiring 14,520 plants per acre. 



The after culture consists in keeping the soil mellow and free from weeds by frequent hoeing or culti- 

 vation. At the approach of winter, cover the entire bed with salt-meadow hay or other loose, fight material. 

 When the plants ''start" 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. 



The blossoms of all strawberries in cultivation are either hermaphrodite (perfect) or pistillate (im- 

 perfect), and the varieties named in this catalog have perfect blossoms, except those marked with the letter 

 P, which are pistiUate. It is best always to plant at least three varieties — early, medium and late — to 

 expand the season of fruiting to its full limits. 



The growing of Strawberries (plants for shipment and fruit for market) has been a leading feature of 

 the Monmouth Nursery for thirty-five years. During this time hundreds of varieties have been tested, 

 including nearly every one offered for sale, and all that developed any serious defect were discarded; hence 

 those herein named are ''the survival of the fittest" and may justly be regarded as the very best varieties 

 at present in commerce. 



It is with pleasure I am enabled to announce my plants for the present spring are exceedingly fine, 

 and I have a large stock of them. 



In these we have what I befieve to be not only the most remarkable but also the most valuable Straw- 

 berries that have ever been produced. The Gandy Strawberrv. introduced by me in 18SS. has become 

 widely popular and has much merit; the same may be said of Morning Star, the Lovett, Silver Coin and 

 other introductions of the Monmouth Xursery. The Van Fleet Hvbrids (Early Jersey Giant and Late 

 Jersey Giant) have all the desirable properties of those named with increa.sed size and productiveness and 

 possess also what, in my estimation, is of far greater importance than great size and beauty or large yield, 

 namely the deficious flavor and aroma of the wild native Strawberry. For a long time manv plant breeders 

 have endeavored to produce this verv thing, i. e., a Strawberrv having the flavor of the native wilding and 

 also yielding large berries in abundance. This is what Dr. Walter Van Fleet (perhaps the most skillful 



THE VAN FLEET HYBRID STRAWBERRIES 



LATE JERSEY GIANT— (Van Fleet No. 14)— For description see page 2 



3 



