8 ALLEN'S BOOK OF BERRIES— 1923 



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One of Our Many Plant Fields as It Looked Early in September. 



Cultural Directions 



Strawberries will thrive in a wide variety of soils and climates. They are grown 

 successfully from Cuba to Canada and from Maine to California. They will grow in 

 any type of soil that is not dry sand or waterlogged clay. They will often give good crops 

 in soils that have had poor preparation. But, like other crops they respond quickly to 

 good cultivation. 



One of the first essentials in producing a good crop of berries is plenty of moisture. 

 Springy land that is well drained is therefore the best type of soil. A good garden soil 

 that is full of organtic matter will almost invariably produce a fine crop of berries. On 

 other types water may be conserved by cultivation or mulching, and generally there may 

 be enough natural rainfall at fruiting time. Any soil that will grow good garden or 

 field crops will grow strawberries. 



Preparing the land. Potatoes, beans, tomatoes, cabbage and other truck crops 

 usually leave the ground in excellent shape for strawberries. This is because they are 

 kept well cultivated and free from weeds for a good part of the season and are usually 

 well manured and fertilized. We have noticed that strawberries do well following cow 

 peas or soy beans. If you can plant rye or some other winter covering it will keep the soil 

 from leaching and afford humus to turn under in spring. Not much top growth from 

 rye though as the ground should be prepared and plants set as early in spring as weather 

 permits. Mowing down a heavy growth of weeds (before they go to seed), or cowpeas 

 or soy beans, or almost any crop will protect the ground during the winter and leave it 

 nice and mellow for spring planting. The soil should be constantly enriched by turning 

 under green crops, legumes preferred. Avoid if possible, sod land, as the white grubs 

 winter over in such lands and cut off the young plants when set the following spring. 

 If you have no other land available, plow the land in the fall, harrowing it as often as 

 you can. and many of the white grubs will be killed out. 



Having selected your piece of land, cover it with fine stable manure if available. 

 Fall spreading is preferable but early spring is fairly satisfactory. Cut this into the land 

 with a disc harrow if available. In early spring plow the land, harrow it thoroughly, 

 mark off your rows, and you are ready for the plants. 



Time to plant — 'Important. In the extreme .South stock plants, free from nema- 

 tode and rust, should be planted in February, March or early April. In the Middle States, 

 March and April are the best planting months. In the North — -April. Plant in early 

 spring, just as soon as you can get your ground in condition. This gives plants as long 

 a growing season as possible, and the plants are set and growing before hot, dry weather 

 comes on. Be sure to have your plants on hand when you are ready for them. Have 

 your plants shipped early and heel them in some protected place and cover with 

 straw until you can plant. 



We cannot emphasize too strongly the importance of planting early. In this section 

 the last two weeks in March are the ideal planting days. We cannot get our entire 

 plantings out during those two weeks, but the ones we do get out then always start quicker, 

 grow better and make better beds than those planted later unless conditions are very 

 favorable. 



