Pot-Grown Strawberry Plants 



All varieties of the Strawberrv give the greatest 

 yield and the largest berries when grown in rich 

 soil; hence, no pains should be spared in prepar- 

 ing the bed carefully before planting, by digging 

 or ploughing deeply and turning under a liberal 

 application of well-rotted manure. Pulverize the 

 surface soil thoroughly with harrow and rake, 

 and if a top-dressing of ground bone can be ap- 

 plied, it will be found a great benefit at fruiting 

 time. Select a location where the soil is moist 

 and deep if possible — moist and yet where water 

 does not stand near or upon the surface. In such 

 a soil well-enriched Strawberries delight and give 

 marvelous results. They will, however, succeed 

 upon any soil if well manured. Strawberries do 

 not succeed when planted in shaded locations ; 

 hence, in selecting a plot for them, be careful to 

 avoid places that are shaded by trees. For hill 

 culture in the family garden, set plants in rows 

 two feet apart and the plants fifteen inches apart 

 in the rows; or if to be worked by horse and 

 cultivator, have the rows three feet and the plants 

 one foot apart in the row. In either case, cut off 

 the runners as they appear. If to be grown in 

 matted rows, plant in rows three and one-half or 

 four feet apart and the plants a foot apart in the 

 rows, permitting the runners to grow at will. 



The after-culture consists in keeping the soil 

 mellow and free from weeds by frequent hoeing 

 or cultivation. At the approach of winter ( as 

 soon as the ground is frozen sufficiently to sup- 

 port the weight of a horse and cart) cover the 

 entire bed \^'\th salt-meadow hay or other loose 

 light material. Light strawy manure is excellent 

 for this purpose, as the soluble portion leaches 

 into the soil and affords nourishment to the 

 plants, while the fibrous portion remains upon the 

 surface as a mulch. Evergreen branches are very 

 useful for holding the covering in place and are 

 of themselves a protection. When the plants start 

 growth in spring, rake the mulch from off the 

 plants sufficiently to permit them to push through 

 it. and leave it on the surface about the plants to 

 protect the fruit and keep it clean and also keep 

 the soil moist and cool. An application of un- 

 leached wood-ashes or muriate of potash along 

 the rows very early in the spring, just before a 

 rainfall, will be found to increase the size, beauty 

 and flavor of the berries. 



SELECTION OF VARIETIES 



The blossoms of all Strawberries in cultivation 

 are either hermaphrodite ''perfect) or pistillate 

 (imperfect) and the varieties named in this 

 pamphlet are perfect except those marked with 

 the letter 'T," which are pistillate. The flowers 

 of these differ from the hermaphordite or perfect 

 varieties in being destitute of stamens, or nearly 

 so, and are unable, therefore, to properly fructify 

 themselves. It is consequently essential, when a 

 pistillate variety is grown, that a perfect flowered 

 variety be planted near it in order to properly 

 pollenize its blossoms, the proportion being one 

 row of perfect flowered plants to every four or five 

 rows of pistillate ones. When thus properly fer- 

 tilized, the pistillate varieties are often the most 

 productive and there is really no good reason for 

 the prejudice with which some growers regard 

 them. If but one variety be gro^vn, however, it 

 should, of course, be a perfect flowered sort and 

 not a pistillate one. It is best always to plant at 

 least three varieties — early, medium and late — to 

 expand the season of fruiting to its full limits. 



A POT-GROWN STRAWBERRY PLANT 



POT-GROWN STRAWBERRIES 



have the great advantage over ordinary or "layer" 

 plants of producing a crop of the largest and 

 finest berries the first season after planting. Fur- 

 ther than this, they may be safely planted in the 

 hottest and dryest weather, without serious check 

 to growth, and they can be planted where early 

 potatoes, peas or other early crops have been har- 

 vested. True, the first cost is somewhat greater 

 than when layer plants are employed; but the ad- 

 vantages of pot grown are so great and many, 

 there can be no comparison in value between them 

 for summer planting. In fact, for summer and 

 fall setting, pot-grown plants are indispensable 

 if a crop of berries is desired the following .June. 

 In setting them out, dip the balls of earth in wa- 

 ter to thoroughly moisten them, and make the 

 soil very firm about each plant. 



There is as great a difference in the quality of 

 pot-grown Strawberry plants as there is in cigars, 

 wine, butter or the fruit of the different varie- 

 ties of the Strawberry — a vast difference, indeed. 

 I grew many thousands of them in 1877. and have 

 continued growing them in increased numbers 

 every year since then. I am, therefore, one of 

 the pioneers in growing pot-grown Strawberry 

 plants, and the steady and continued growth of 

 my trade, in the face of such sharp competition as 

 has existed during recent years, is certainly pretty 

 good evidence that I have mastered the "know 

 how" to produce them. I dare say. without fear 

 of contradiction, that I have facilities for growing 

 pot-grown Strawberries and employees skilled 

 in their culture, equalled by few and surpassed 

 by none. 



Montgomery Co., 0., Sept. 14. 1012. 

 Sometime ago I ordered some Strawberry plants 

 from you. I received the plants 0. K. and am 

 well pleased with them. Maris Eoyer. 



Fairfield Co.. Conn., Sept. 17, 1912. 

 The Strawberrv plants arrived in excellent con- 

 dition and look fine twenty-four hours after being 

 planted. (Mrs.) H. L. Waldo. 



Montgomery Co., Pa., Aug. 30, 1912. 

 Strawberry plants received and very satisfac- 

 tory. A. J. Arthur. 



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