1921.] 



The Strawberry Crop. 



649 



to be most scrupulously cleared of weeds, thoroughly 

 cultivated, and brought to a " good tilth." The beds when 

 planted must receive constant attention ; and the successful 

 grower must be ever stirring the soil to keep the surface loose 

 and friable and at all times free from weeds. Much manure is 

 needed and large crops cannot be gathered unless the ground 

 has been adequatelv — one might even say abundantly — supplied 

 with its proper quota of nitrogen, phosphates and potash. Lime 

 is also necessary. 



The crop produced, of course, varies vrith. the treatment, class 

 of soil, season, vaiiety. and to some extent the district. This 

 year, owing to the drought, the crop was unduly early and the 

 season a short one. The yield varied : the Tamar Valley averaged 

 nearly 2 tons to the acre ; Cheddar. Hamsphire. and Wisbech 

 not more than 25 cwt. per acre. 



As the harvest season approaches the worries of the grower 

 increase. The fruit is very tempting to boys, birds, and slugs. 

 Each invasion must be met by its appropriate defence. Probably 

 his greatest trial is at picking time. Picking commences at sun- 

 rise and is continued throughout the day until the dispatch of 

 the trains to the market centres. During all this time ever}i:hing 

 is hustle — there is short time for sleep at night for anyone con- 

 cerned, and no rest by day. 



Where the holdings cultivated are not more than 6 or 7 acres 

 in extent the picking may be managed by the gi'ower and his 

 family ; up to 10 acres the help of neighbours may suffice ; but 

 ioY the picking on larger holdings there is an immigration of 

 " pickers " attracted from various social classes. The prepara- 

 tion of accommodation for pickers in advance of their ariival, 

 and the management of them when arrived constitute the most 

 serious test of the grower's organising capacity and resource. 

 At the conclusion of the picking season preparation for the 

 production of next year's crop commences immediately. 



A small proportion only of the fruit is consumed in the pro- 

 ducing districts; the bulk has to be packed and sent to markets 

 all over the British Isles, and. owing to the perishable nature 

 of the berries, transport must be smooth and expeditious. This 

 year the occurrence of the coal strike gave rise to fears of inter- 

 ference with the pun<3tual distribution of the crop, and in order 

 to help the growers, and to facilitate the best possible organisa- 

 tion of transport the Ministry stationed Inspectors in certain 

 strawberry producing centres. These Inspectors kept in close 

 touch vdth. the growws, the Growers' Associations and the Rail- 



