Cultural Practices 



Strawberries are easily grown, liowever the factors governing tlie growth of tlie plants 

 and production of the fruit, that can be controlled, will usually more than offset the effects of 

 varied weather conditions. Good care and poor weather will usually produce more and better 

 fruit and larger profits than poor care and good weather. Following are suggestions on every 

 phase of Strawberry Culture which we hope will aid you in getting the maximum of both pleas- 

 ure and profit from your berry plantings. Should you' have any questions which are not an- 

 swered here we shall be glad to have you write us. 



Adaptability: The strawberry is the most ver- 

 satile fruit grown and is successful from Florida to 

 California, and can be grown on almost any soil 

 that will retain sufficient moisture to mature the 

 fruit. The adaptability of each variety for certain 

 latitudes make this wide range possible. 



Soil Selection: To produce the maximum yield 

 the selection of suitable soil is of major import- 

 ance. As strawberries draw very heavily on mois- 

 ture at fruiting time and if there is not sufficient 

 present, the crop will be cut down materially, the 

 soil selected should be retentive of moisture, should 

 contain an abundance of humus and at the same 

 time have good drainage. These are the essentials 

 01 good strawberry soil. In sections where the 

 white grub is prevalent, the soil selected for ber- 

 ries should have been planted to truck crops that 

 had thorough cultivation for two years,, previous 

 to setting the berry plants. Soil that has been 

 planted to truck crops is preferable in all cases as 

 the clean cultivation given the preceding crop will 

 cut down the presence of weed seed and the soil 

 Avill be better in mechanical condition. Newly plow- 

 ed sod land should be avoided as it may be badiy 

 infested with white grub and at best it is rough 

 and hard to get in any sort of condition. If no 

 other land is available, plow in the fall and disc 

 or harrow several times during the winter and 

 spring. This will aid in getting the soil in better 

 condition and most of the grubs Avill be killed out. 



Preparing: the Land: When conditions permit it 

 is well to plow down a cover crop of rye and vetch 

 or other cover crops suitable for your section, of 

 course, this is not necessary, but it will add much 

 humus to the soil which will increase the fertility 

 and aid in retaining moisture. If the land should 

 be covered with grass or weeds, these should be 

 ] flowed down while green when they will add much 

 liumus to the soil and the seed will not likelv 

 germinate, but if permitted to die the growth is of 

 little value and the seed will make constant hoeing 

 necessary. The land selected should be plowed as 

 early as possible in the spring and disced or har- 

 rowed thoroughly until a firm, even plant bed is 

 obtained. 



Time To Plant: Experience has taught us 

 Early Spring is the very best time to plant. 

 When the plants are dormant they withstand 

 digging, shipping and transplaiiiting better, 

 start growing quicker and are much more vig- 

 orous than when planted after the growth has 

 started. Early runner plants are more produc- 

 tive than those made in the summer or fall, 

 thus by early planting your patch will be more 

 oroductive. It costs no more to plant early 

 than late thus there is no reason why every- 

 one should not enjoy the beneficial results of 

 Early Planting. Light frosts, that do not 

 heave the ground will not damage the plants. 

 April is the proper time to set plants in the 

 Northern States, in the Central States March 

 and early April and in the Southern States 

 from November 1 until April 1. Be sure to 

 have your order at hand when your ground is 

 ready. 



This is one of the great advantages we can offer 

 you. Our climate is such that we can furnish you 

 hardy, fresh dug plants promptly any time from 

 Oct. loth to May 1st., whereas Northern plant 

 growers are often unable to dig until your plants 

 should have been in the ground. 



Care of Plants: Plants should be set as soon as 

 received. If for any reason you are unable to set 

 them for three or four days the plants should be 

 removed from the crate and the roots and moss 

 dampened, replaced in the crate and stored where 

 it is cool, preferably in a cellar. Should you expect 

 to hold the plants for a longer period it is better 

 to heal them in the ground. The roots should be 

 dampened, the bundles opened and the plants heel- 

 ed in a V-shaped trench with the crowns even with 

 the ground, and the soil packed firmly around the 

 roots. If desirable they may be heeled in several 

 layers with a few inches of soil between each row. 

 By heeling the plants in a shady place and keeping 

 tlie soil moist they will keep in perfect condition 

 for two or three weeks. Be sure to have the plants 

 well spread out so that the soil will come in con- 

 tact with all the roots. 



,^»Yj^^^^ 



Planting: There are many methods of setting 

 plants and of course you should use the one best 

 suited to your needs. The main object is to have 

 the roots straight down and spread out fan shape 

 with the crown even with the surface and the soil 

 packed firmly about the roots. There are no ben- 

 eficial effects from clipping the roots but it is bet- 

 ter to clip off an inch or two than to have the roots 

 doubled up. If a horsedrawn transplanter is used 

 this practice will be a great aid in getting the 

 plants set properly. It is very important to set the 

 plants at the proper depth, as any that are set too 



