21 
MeoJL MetkaJU and Mem Va^Uetiel 
Quick cash profits coming only a few weeks after the plants are set I More satisfaction from 
everbearers both in the home garden and as a cash crop is definitely in the cards. So many times 
in the past, yields have been so inconsistent that growers have decided that everbearers are 
just no good— not worth the trouble they take. There has been much to support that view. 
It has been observed for a long time that everbearing plants which failed to make runners had more summer 
and fall berries and the hill system for everbearers has been and still is definitely advocated. A variation from 
this is the spaced plant sawdust mulch system which will greatly increase your satisfaction with everbearers 
due to the larger yields and bright clean out of season berries. For example, in 1951 we had a poor year for 
everbearers in this section. Under such conditions our spaced plant sawdust mulched plants of Gem, Super- 
fection. Brilliant and Red Rich all gave fairly good yields, while right beside them Red Rich and Brilliant in a 
matted row system yielded practically nothing. 
The spaced plant sawdust mulch system was first developed in Ohio. We quote below from a report pub- 
lished by the Ohio Station. 
This account is condensed from a report in Ohio Farm Journal Research, Jan. and Feb. 1950, by Dr. Wesley 
P. Judkins, then with the Ohio Station, now Head of the Department of Horticulture at Blacksburg, Virginia. 
^'During the last few years some Ohio growers have been making fine profits from everbearing 
strawberries." 
'^Greatest profits have been secured from the Gem variety. During the past year eight ever- 
bearing varieties have been tested at the Station. Two of these were superior to Gem and 
should be considered in future plantings.'^ 
Gem plants which were set out at the Ohio Station in April, 1949, produced 4100 qts. per acre, Sup^rfection 
5630 qts. and Brilliant 7000 qts. 
"27je latest developments in everbearing strawberry production demonstrate that the largest 
yields, greatest ease and economy of operation and highest profits are to be secured by follow- 
ing a 4-row bed-type planting system." (See diagram page 27.) 
The plants are set one foot apart in rows which are one foot apart. A two foot alley or middle is left between 
each 4-row bed. The 4-row system produces high yields in August, which are maintained during the remainder 
of the season. 
'TAe 4-row system can be expected to produce 7000 qts. per acre of Superfection the first 
year." 
Under Ohio conditions everbearing strawberries should be planted just as early in the spring as the land 
can be prepared — late March or early April. The first crop of weeds will usually appear within two or three 
weeks after planting. These should be controlled by hoeing. After this first hoeing the entire area should be 
covered with a layer of sawdust one inch thick. This mulch is very important for conserving soil moisture and 
suppressing weed growth. Later, weeds, if any, must be removed by pulling because hoeing would mix the 
sawdust with the soil and eliminate its mulch effect. 
All the blossoms which develop on the newly set plants .should be removed until early July or a week or 
two later if plant growth has not been quite vigorous. 
After fruit production starts, berries may be harvested about twice each week until frost stops growth in 
October. The sawdust mulch helps to conserve soil moisture during the last summer. If an extended drought 
occurs the crop can be greatly increased in size and quality by the use of irrigation. 
All runners should be removed from the plants as fast as they develop. This is essential if highest yields are 
to be secured. 
"The sawdust mulch appears to give adequate protection over the winter period. A thin renewal layer may 
be needed in the fall if the spring application was too light. A full inch of mulch should be maintained." 
The spaced-plant sawdust mulch system comes high per acre, with more plants and much hand labor 
required, "but numerous Ohio growers have demonstrated in small and medium sized plantings that a carefully 
managed patch will give high profits." 
Hanisen Co., Ky., July 23, 1951, "I set 300 of your Super- Greene Co., N. Y., Feb. 15, 195 1. "The wonderful result* 
fection plants in early April. Everyone of them lived and devel- of Superfection everbearing plants purchased from you in 1950 
SSitd?d'!r.°;2i V/^L-S^ ?'ou^°^^^^^^^^^ P'OMP,. «. to ,..o,d.r 500 addiU,»al pl.nU lo, 19SI. .or which 
every plant has from 12 to 25 berries on it. They are large and you will find enclosed check." v 
perfectly shaped." V. B. Peddicord. E- S. Koran. 
