STRAWBERRY PLANTS OF QUALITY 



STRAWBERRY CULTURE 



Soil — Strawberries need a well-drained soil, but still land that 

 will retain moisture, as strawberries require a great deal of mois- 

 ture, especially at fruiting time; therefore, a moist soil always 

 contributes to success. A heavy sandy loam or light clay loam is 

 preferable for a strawberry patch; however, good results can be 

 obtained upon the lighter soils if springy or if sufficient care is 

 taken to retain moisture. As the strawberry crop is of more value 

 than the ordinary farm crop, more care should be taken that the 

 soil in proper condition and supplied with the proper plant food. 

 Strawberries should follow some truck crop that has been heavily 

 manured if possible, or after cowpeas; if neither of these are 

 available, rye can be sown in the early fall and plowed under in the 

 early spring; this will supply humus, as strawberries need a soil 

 full of humus; it helps hold the moisture and supplies plant food 

 that cannot be added by the use of commercial fertilizer. Straw- 

 berries should not be planted on an old sod, as it is likely to be in- 

 fested with grubs; such land should at least receive one cultivated 

 crop before planting strawberries. 



Selection of Plants — The selection of the plants you set is more 

 important than many think, for the quality of the plants you set 

 will largely determine the quantity and quality of the fruit you 

 secure. It costs considerable to prepare, fertilize, plant, cultivate 

 and market an acre of strawberries, and you cannot afford to set 

 plants taken from an old fruiting bed which is low in vigor and 

 fruiting power and also of unknown variety to save a few cents or 

 dollars, because inferior fruit always sells for a much lower price. 

 The few dollars you pay extra per acre to get good plants often 

 makes the difference between profit and loss at fruiting time. 



PRYOR'S quality plants are fresh dug from new beds that have 

 never before borne a crop of fruit and are full of vitality and of 

 heavy fruiting power and should grow and produce big crops if 

 instructions in this catalogue are followed. We dig the whole row 

 throwing out the ones that are not well rooted and are worth much 

 more than plants dug from the alleys. 



Care of Plants When Received — If for any reason you are not 

 quite ready to set plants when received, always unpack plants, 

 carefully separating each variety, and untie bundles and heal in 

 V-shaped trenches; dampen the roots, but not the tops; firmsoil 

 around them with foot and shade from sun. Plants can be kept a 

 month in this way. For northern customers I recommend this 

 method and advise ordering plants shipped early in April, when they 

 are dormant and will stand handling safely; also will be tnere ready 

 to set at the most favorable time. 



Planting — In the northern states strawberries should be planted 

 as early in the spring as the ground can be worked; in the south 

 plants may be set any time from November 1st to April 1st. When 

 setting plants care should be taken not to let the plants be exposed 

 to the wind and sun. The roots should be kept damp and set in 

 moist soil and the soil should be firmly pressed around the plant so 

 it will not dry out, and not set the plants too deep or too shallow, 

 the depth as grown in the nursery row being just right. The rows 



