plied to the previous crop but is helpful to 

 current crop if full of litter and only three 

 to four tons per acre are used. Excessive 

 applications of poultry manure may cause 

 some burning especially in dry seasons. 

 If used, apply poultry manure to field or 

 garden in the Fall for spring planting. 



For small areas a good quide in the ap- 

 plication of horse, cow, sheep or hog ma- 

 nure is to figure 1 to 2 bushels for every 

 100 square feet. Manure from poultry and 

 broiler houses either contains chick weed, 

 seed from feed or bedding or stimulates 

 excessively the growth of chick weed, 

 which becomes very serious in many 

 strawberry growing areas. 



WHEN SHOULD PLANTS BE SET? 

 EARLY! 



The most important single thing in 

 growing strawberries successfully is to 

 set the plants EARLY. With no other crop 

 that you grow is early spring setting so 

 ALL IMPORTANT. With dormant plants 

 available plants can be set safely at least 

 two weeks later than with freshly dug 

 stock. 



In the Southern States this means Feb- 

 ruary, March and early April. In the Mid- 

 dle States, March and April. In the North- 

 ern States, April and May in late seasons 

 and in states far North. In all states it 

 means just as early as the weather per- 

 mits you to get the ground ready and the 

 plants set. 



A good stand and growth are easy if 

 plants are set early so they can become 

 established while the soil is still cool and 

 moist. With late setting good results are 

 very unlikely unless soil and moisture 

 conditions are entirely favorable. 



SHOULD CHEMICAL FERTILIZER BE 

 USED? On very fertile garden soils none 

 is needed. On most good soils fertilizer 

 will not prove beneficial if plenty of stable 

 manure of any kind has benn applied. 

 On many soils chemical fertilizers will be 

 very helpful. 600 pounds per acre of any 

 fertilizer containing 3 to 6% of organic 

 nitrogen and 5 to 10% of phosporus may 

 be used. This may be stirred into the soil 

 down the row before the plants are set 

 or applied as a side dressing in one or 

 more applications after growth starts. In- 

 organic nitrogen like nitrate of soda or 

 sulphate or ammonia should be used in 

 these applications only with great care, as 

 they will injure either roots or leaves, if 



they come in direct contact. Organic nit- 

 rogen materials like tankage, fish, dis- 

 solved bone., cotton seed meal, dried 

 blood, etc., are safe to use. Any form of 

 phosporous is O. K. Potash is not usually 

 a limiting factor. However, we sometimes 

 use a fertilizer with 2 to 3% of potash 

 just as insurance. 



Whatever the soil preparation and ear- 

 lier treatment it is well to examine the 

 plant beds in the late August or early Sep- 

 tember. If the growth is satisfactory and 

 the leaves have a rich dark green appear- 

 ance, no further fertilizer is necessary. If 

 color and growth are not satisfactory at 

 that time apply as a top dressing directly 

 on the plant beds about 600 pounds per 

 acre of 6-8-2 or any fertilizer mixture your 

 dealer has containing 4 to 6% of nitrogen, 

 6 to 10% of phosphorus and 2 to 5% 

 of potash. Apply only when foliage is 

 thoroughly dry and brush loose material 

 off the leaves at once. This is important 

 to prevent injury. 



An application of 600 pounds per acre 

 means about 1 pound for each 20 feet of 

 row. 



PLANTS FOR VARIOUS PLANTING 





DISTANCE 





Rows 



In the row 



Total per acre 



3 ft. apart 



18 inches 



9,680 plants 



3 ft. " 



24 " 



7,260 " 



3% ft. " 



18 " 



8,297 " 



3% ft. " 



24 " 



6,223 " 



4 ft. " 



18 " 



7,260 " 



4 ft. " 



24 " 



5,445 " 



3 ft. 8 in. 



18 " 



7,128 " 



WHAT ABOUT LIME? If other crops, 

 weeds or grass have made a good growth 

 on the land you have selected for straw- 

 berries it does not need lime. However, 

 if you want to have your soil tested for 

 acidity a pH range of 5.7 to 6 is best, 5 to 

 7 is satisfactory, if organic matter content 

 of the soil is fairly high. 



WHAT CARE DO PLANTS NEED? They 

 should be set promptly on arrival if pos- 

 sible. Dip the roots in water and keep 

 them protected when taken to the garden 

 or field for setting. A hot day is bad for 

 setting strawberry plants. A hot windy 

 day is terrible. A cool cloudy day is fine. 



25 



