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STRAWBERRY PLANTS. 



The Strawberr}', being the first fi'uit to I'ipen in the Spring, comes to the table when the 

 appetite is exacting, and is a very welcome visitor. It is so beautiful in form, color and fra- 

 grance, that it is to the truits what the rose is to the flowers— a veritable queen. 



No fruit can surpass strawberries, fully ripe and freshly picked from the vines. They are 

 so beneficial to health tliat invalids gain strengthY-'^'"'"^^"^"' ^^'-'^' ""- '^""'~"^^"~^ ^ "■^^^ 

 from eating them, and thoy may be eaten at evory^J Be confident about your success wit*^ > 

 rae.il in satisfying quantities, and nourish the mosts strawberries. Don't go at it in a half" > 



T in ns i f von V 



\ 



but pitch in as if you 



delicate stomach. J hearted waj' 



The fruit is so 'soon produced after planting, <| meant it. 

 that it affords plcasMUt, easy and profitable employ 

 ment for the poor with but little land, to the old with little strength, and to all who love to till 

 the soil and get near to nature and to mother earth. 



The charms of the strawberry do not all end in the eating'of it. The strawberry is sure to 

 grow, and the various varieties are suited for the various soils. Its culture is simple and fine 

 berries ai-e sure to sell at paying prices. No garden or farm should be without this delicious 

 fruit. Strawberries will succeed in any soil that is adapted to any ordinary' farm or garden 

 ci'ops. Soil should be thoroughly prepared to a good depth, well drained and enriched. 



SETTING THE STRAAVIJERRY IJEO— This is probably the most important point to be 

 considered. First, ])low your land, and for best results sub-soil. The usual plan here is to set 

 plants in rows, 33^ feet broad and I.") to 18 inches in the row. And to get best results, the first 

 careless boy or man you find that is not setting plants just right, get him out of the field, as 

 there are more plants wasted by careless planters than any 

 other way. If the roots are too long, trim them, as the extra 

 long roots are not of any special value, but a strong crown and 

 stout roots are the life of the plant. Use a trowel for the set- 

 ting of the plants and see that the dirt is firmly packed around 

 them, and there will be but little loss. It costs just the same to 

 cultivate a poor stand as it does a good one. The accompanying 

 cut shows a plant properly set. 



If these instructions are properly carried out there will be 

 less complaint to nurserymen. 



The blossoms of all varieties are bi-sexual or perfect. 

 Those marked imperfect are destitute of stamens, and are 

 termed pistillate or imperfect, as are shown in the following 

 figures. Imperfect varieties should have a row of perfect fiow- 

 ered sorts planted every third or fourth row at least, to pollenize 

 their blossoms. When the imperfect bloomers are properly fer- 

 tilized they are the most prolific, and there is no reason for any 

 prejudice against them. Success depends in a great measure on 

 getting fine healthy j)lants, strictly pure and true to name, this 

 we know our plants to be. 



IVtULCHING— As soon as the ground begins to freeze in the Fall, cover the vines with 

 pins needles, straw, corn stalks or coarse manure, and allowing to remain there until early 

 Spring, then rake the mulch off the vines, leaving it between the rows which will conserve 

 moisture during a dry spell. 



