The Most From Your Berries 



To realize the maximnra of pleasure and profit from yonr berries there are some points 

 that must be considered beyond the actual production of the fruit. 



1. Plant only such varieties as produce firm, at- for two or three days. Berries that are bruised and 



tractive fruit of hij^h dessert quality, Avhieh are cruslied will often mold quickly while fruit handled 



adapted to your locality and market. carefully will kee|) in jiood condition . The berries 



i:. yet your berries on ffood, rich soil, that is well should be kept as cool as i)ossib!e and not be per- 



drained. retentive of moisture and in good mechan- mitted to stand in the sun any longer than is ab- 



loal condition. Plants that are weJ fed will produce solutely necessary, 



large/ berries. (5. Careful gradinp: Avill also aid greatly in main- 



S. Take special care that the plants do not be- taining high quality. All decayed and imi)erfect 



come too crowded in the row. Encourage the early fruit should be discarded and any undersized ber- 



runners to root as these wilt produce more and ries i)acked separately. 



better berries than the late runner plants. A bed 7. IMuIching will aid greatly in keeping the ber- 



18 to 24 inches wide with the plants spaced (> to i) ries clean during a rain and also keep the ground 



inches apart in the bed is ideal for heavy produc- cool and moist. This practice is a great aid in pro- 



tion of high quality fruit. Fruit will be more firm diicing liigh quality fruit. 



and there will be less decay in Avet weather, as a 8. Always use new or clean packages, these 



result of the improved ventilation. greatly enhance the appearance of the fruit and 



4. Keep the berries closely picked so that they make selling much easier. Dark, dirty crates and 



do not become too over-ripe and in so doing lose baskets should never be used. Quite often dark, 



their (luality and appearance. unattractive packages will detract twice as much 



0. Care in picking and handling will aid greatly from the selling price as new containers would 



in retaining the high quality of the fruit. This have cost. 



should receive special attention when the berries 9. Have your baskets well filled. Everyone likes 



are to be shipped long distances or are to be kept good measure, give it to them, it PAYS. 



From the U. S. Dept. of Agri. and Various Experiment Stations Comes Much Information of 

 Vital Interest to All Berry Growers 



SPACING PLANTS:. The U. S. Dept. of Agri. cooperating Avith the North Carolina Agricultural Ex- 

 periment Station, in 1934 established conclusively the value of spaciug the runner plants of Blakemore 

 iu North Carolina. These tests were as follows : 



Yield qts. No. l"s per cent. Culls per cent. 



Spacing per acre aver, of G pickings aver, of G pickings 



24 inch rows, G In. spacing 4700 80 '-0 



24 inch rows, 9 in. spaciug 499.1 84 IG 



T2 inch double hill 3500 90 10 



30 inch matted row 2331 57 43 



Till inch matted row 2098 G8 32 



For the season a difference of $1.50 per crate would have been realized between the berries of the 

 double row and matted rows, at least $1.00 more for the spaced then the matted row berries. On this 

 basis Avith an average of $2.00 per crate for the matted roAV berries, the income per acre would be: 



(I inch spaced roAv, $447.00, or $311.00 more than the SO in. matted row. 

 '- 9 inch spaced roAV, $408.00, or $332.00 more than the SO in. matteci roAv. 



12 inch double hill, $385.00, or $249.00 more than the 30 in. matted roAV. 



30 inch matted roAv, $1.3(i.OO. 



12 inch matted roAV, $132.00, or $4.00 less than the 30 in. matted roAv. 



The keeping qualities of the fruit Avas also much improved l)y the better ventilation afforded in 

 the spaced roAvs. 



In "Science" magazine" of October 5, 1934, Dr. George M. DarroAv, of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 

 states, in part "Careful observations during the current season ot the ncAv varieties, Dorsett and Fairfax 

 and ihe older variety, Blakemore, all introductions of the U. S. Dei)t. of Agriculture support the ex- 

 planation that spacing is the chief factor in the local adaption of straAvberry varieties. Apparently in 

 A'arieties such as Blakemore and Dorsett, A\'here vigor of plant may be expressed by the production of 

 many runners, yields may be increased by restricting the number of runner plants to the optimum per 

 square foot. Runner restriction, conserving as it does the soil nutrients and moisture, tends towards 

 more croAvns, more fruit buds and more fruit per plant." 



In an article for the American Pomological Society, Dr. Darrow states further: "Last June I saAV 

 fields in matted rows both in Conn, and in N. Y'., Avhere decay woud be ecpially as high as in the experi- 

 nienlal matted roAv", (North Carolina, 1934, decay Avas 20 % one day after ))icking fruit from 30 inch 

 matted rows)". In one field Avith dense matted rows in tliis state (Conn.) a large part of all the greeu 

 berries on the plants Avere rotting. Spacing plants so that deAv and rain can dry off much more quick- 

 ly tlian in matted roAvs is an effective way to reduce decay in the field." 



REX()V.4TINC; BEDS: When a straAvberry field is to be kept o\<'r for a second year it should be 

 renovated as soon as possible after the harvest. In tests at the U. S. Plant Field Station, near Glenn D 

 ale, Md., the effect of moAving leaves after harvest on yields the folloAving year Avere: 



Increase or decrease over unmoAved 

 Time of mowing Blakemoro Hlg Joo Howard 17 (Premier) 



July 1 increase 22.0 increase 13.5 increase 12.1 



August 1 increase 11. S decrease 7.7 decrease 0.1 



September 1 decrease 10.5 decrease 10.8 decrease 24.2 



MoAving should be done as early as possible to enable a vigorous new top to develop before fruit- 

 bud formation in September. 



HANDLING THE FKUIT: The Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station in their Bulletin No. 

 318. March 19,35: I'erfect strawberries held at 40 to 44 degrees F. kept in marketable condition for 8 

 to 12 days. Damaged berries only 2 days, Avhile perfect berries held at 75 di'grees F. kept only 1 1/., 

 days and damaged berries less than a day. Raspberries picked in the early morning and late evening 

 kept better than Avhen picked during the middle of the day, Avith or Avithout refrigeration. (We be- 

 lieve this Avill also apply to strawberries.) After six days raspi)erries from six different pickers rang- 

 ed from 10 to 95 per cent, decay. This certainly shoAvs the necessitv for great care in picking and 

 handling the fruit in relation to its keeping qualitv. 



SOIL ACIDITY AND HU3ICS: Prof. J. B. Hester, Norfolk, Va., Virginia Truck Experiment Station, 

 has found the range of soil acidity at Avliich straAvberries grcAV vigorously Avas directly related to large 

 amounts of organic matter in the soil. Soluable aluminum. (Avhich is considered the injurious element 

 in the soil when soils are very acid), disappeared Avhen large amounts of organic matter Avere added. 

 In soil Avith over 7.5 per cent, organic matter plants grcAV Avell at a ph. of 4.G, Avhile Avith less than 

 1 per cent, organic matter, plants did not groAv Avell at a ph. of less than 5.8. With high humus con- 

 tent StraAvberries and other crops groAv Avell over wide range of soil acidity. We believe this find- 

 ing to be of great value to farmers in all lines and should be given special attention when planning 

 the farm program and crop rotation. 



5 



I 



