nates. Control by both chemicals is improved 

 if they are mixed into the top 1 inch of soil. 

 Tenoran will kill seedling grasses up to % 

 inches and most broadleaf weeds up to V/i 

 inches in height. Tenoran should not be ap- 

 plied when the temperatures are 90 °F or 

 above. Consult your County Extension Agent 

 for specific details. 



Black plastic mulch can be used by home 

 gardeners on non-fumigated soil. Black plas- 

 tic must be used to eliminate the sunlight 

 and thereby prevent weed seed germination. 

 If plastic mulch is to be used, the soil is pre- 

 pared in the usual manner but the row is 

 formed into a slightly raised bed. All ferti- 

 lizer needed to grow the strawberry crop 

 should be incorporated into the soil before 

 planting the strawberries. The plants are 

 planted according to the hill system and then 

 the plastic is stretched over the row. The 

 edges of the plastic are secured by covering 

 them with soil. The plants show up as small 

 bulges or bumps under the plastic and a slit 

 is made in the plastic over each plant. The 

 plant foliage is then pulled through the cut 

 in the plastic. Runners must be removed as 

 they form as only the mother plant can root 

 and, therefore, produce fruit. 



MULCHES: They are normally applied for 

 winter protection, but they also help keep 

 the fruit clean. Wheat straw is the most com- 

 monly used material but the grain is not 

 completely removed in the combining process. 

 This creates a problem in the spring and 

 herbicides must be used. Sudan grass that is 

 cut with a forage harvester before the grain 

 matures is used by some growers. Mash hay 

 is used in areas near the coast. Mash hay 

 and Sudan grass do not cause the volunteer 

 grain problem as does wheat. 



In areas from New Jersey, Southern Penn- 

 sylvania, Southern Ohio, Southern Illinois 

 and Missouri south, P/2 to 2 tons of wheat 

 straw per acre should be applied after 3 or 

 4 hard frosts have occurred. The straw should 

 be applied over the entire area. At this rate 

 a few strawberry leaves will protrude through 

 the mulch. If applied in late fall, this will 

 provide early winter protection before the 

 strawberry plant becomes fully dormant. Once 

 the plant is fully dormant the winter temper- 

 ature does not get low enough in this area 

 to damage the strawberry plant. It is not 

 necessary to remove the mulch in the spring 

 as the strawberry will grow through the light 

 mulch and the fruit will rest upon the straw. 



In northern areas, a deeper layer of mulch 

 will have to be applied and it will have to 

 be partially removed in the spring as soon as 

 growth starts. 



Customer Compliments 



Dear Sirs: Ordered 200 plants last year so 

 would not have needed any this year but 

 I put my berries as soon as they came into 

 the front yard circle that I later put flowers 

 in. That way I can water them and cover 

 them till frosts are over. One year we 

 planted Decoration Day in the garden and 

 got a frost that killed them. This way they 

 are growing well and in June take trans- 

 planting very easily. Two weeks after I put 

 them in the circle a girl came flying off the 

 road at 4 A.M. thru the orchard, thru the 

 strawberry bed, hit a pine stump, went side- 

 ways across the drive, knocked down a 

 plum tree, lilac bush, white roses and 

 ended up facing the road. She wasn't hurt, 

 we have plenty of frontage, never thought 

 a car could get so close to the house. They 

 never paid us one cent and we had to 

 struggle cleaning up the mess. Hope that 

 will never happen again. We are very 

 pleased with the Sparkle. I want no other. 

 I am a diabetic and have several friends 

 who are too and like them. They are firm 

 and sweet and ripen later so the garden 

 can be planted before they must be picked. 

 Your plants are very nice and come thru 

 the mail beautifully. Never lost any except 

 for that accident last year since I trench 

 them in and transplant later. 



Sincerely 



Mrs. Alfred F. Vancura 



Dear Friends: July 7, 1972 we set out 375 



plants, there were four different varieties 



you sent us. They produced a good crop 



this spring of large berries. Am more than 



pleased with your plants. They made lots 



of runners last fall, if they were set out late. 



Yours truly 



Carr Mitchell 



Zanesviile, Ohio 



W. F. Allen Co. — Thought you might like to 

 see how your plants grow up here 30 miles 

 from the Canadian border. These are Cat- 

 skill and Fairfax bought from you last May. 

 Every one lived and did they ever grow as 

 you can see. I've always got good plants 

 every year (all from Aliens, of course,) but 

 guess these are the best ever. These were 

 planted in rows 6 feet apart. Keep the 

 snapshot if you want it and thanks again 

 for such nice plants and good service. 

 Yours truly 



Sam & Beverly Meacham 

 Dickinson Center, N.Y. 



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