IS MULCHING NECESSARY? Mulching 

 is necessary for winter protection in all the 

 Northern States and would be helpful in 

 many fields as far South as Virginia and 

 Kentucky. In addition to giving protection 

 from cold, mulching helps to keep down 

 weeds and grass, to conserve soil moisture 

 and to keep the fruit bright and clean. 



The mulch should be applied in the fall 

 after frost and light freezes (25 to 28 degrees 

 F) have occurred but before hard freezing 

 (20 dgrees F or lower). It should be re- 

 moved (at least partly) soon after growth 

 starts in the spring. 



Wheat straw and marsh grass are con- 

 sidered the best materials. Rye straw, pine 

 needles, coarse strawy manure and various 

 kinds of hay are satisfactory. Use whatever 

 you have or can buy at a reasonable price. 





WILL IRRIGATION PAY? If you have 

 irrigation, it will certainly pay to use it for 

 strawberries, especially just before fruiting 

 time. However, irrigation is not necessary. 

 Most of the fine berry crops in this country 

 are produced on good strawberry soil that 

 holds moisture well because stable manure 

 and green crops have been added, or be- 

 cause of a high water table. 



I 



DO STRAWBERRIES NEED SPRAYING? 

 When good varieties are selected and clean 

 healthy plants are used, strawberries do not 

 need spraying as a rule. If insect or disease 

 troubles should appear, our FREE cir- 

 cular on STRAWBERRY INSECTS AND 

 DISEASES may be helpful in identifying 

 the cause and applying the remedy. 



29 



Don'f fail to set strawberry plants this 

 spring, as early as possible. IN NO OTHER 

 WAY can you get a lull crop of berries in 

 late spring or early summer of 1949. We 

 have no plants of any variety to sell for 

 shipment in June, July, August, September, 

 and October. 



Section of Spaced Row — Nofe the Large, 

 Individual Plants \ 



Suffolk, Co., N. Y., Dec. 10, 1946. Your plant* certainly 

 pay off as we can assure you from our first year of fruiting 

 your stock. We never raised strawberries before but 

 followed all suggestions in your Berry Book and cared 

 for our bed as you suggested. From 3000 plants set on 

 3/s of an acre, we sold 3500 guarts of gorgeous strawberries 

 and moved them as fast as we picked for 65c per quart. 

 Cur little two acres right near town is our pride and Joy 

 because we have a growing family that needs outdoor life, 

 and can that extra cash help us? We have just put a 

 salt-hay mulch on our bed for next year. Again your 

 plants have given us a wonderful start for another good 

 year. We wish to have plants reserved for next year, and 

 are anxiously awaiting your new Berry Book. 

 Everett C. Bennett 



Madison Co., Ohio (no date). Again we order the best 

 strawberry plants that I ever saw. Our 300 plants that 

 bore our first crop last year netted over 360 guarts. 

 Besides what we used and put in the locker, we sold 

 $145 worth. For many years we have purchased plants 

 from you and are looking forward to these being of the 

 same quality. 



Mrs. Fred Van Schoyck 



Trumbull Co., Ohio, Dec. 30, 1946. I planted about 200 

 of your plants in 1945 — Premier, Catskill and Fairfax. I 

 had a most remarkable crop on clay loam in my small 

 village garden. The Fairfax were tops. We had a wet 

 spring and many of the Premier rotted. The Catskill were 

 very good. I raised 123 guarts. My original plan was a 

 few berries for shortcake but I ended up selling berries 

 at 50c a quart in addition to many we used to can, freeze 

 and make Jam. Your berries exceeded my expectations in 

 yield and size. One Fairfax berry (coxcomb) measured 

 51/2 inches in circumference. This is unbelievable but true. 

 My neighbors marveled at my crop of berries. I have lust 

 ordinary clay loam. I am sure you have a regular customer 

 in me from now on. 



Mr. Grant H. Donaldson 



