ALLEN'S BOOK OF BERRIES— 1925 



CULTURAL METHODS 



Strawberries will thrive in a wide variety of soils and climates. They are 

 grown successfully from Cuba to Canada and from Maine to California. They 

 will grow in any type of soil that is not dry sand or waterlogged clay. They will 

 often give good crops in soils that have had poor preparation. But, like other 

 crops, they respond quickly to good cultivation and good soil. 



One of the first essentials in producing a good crop of berries is plenty of 

 moisture. Springy land that is well drained is therefore the best type of soil. A 

 good garden soil that is full of organic matter will almost invariably produce a 

 fine crop of berries. On other types water may be conserved by cultivation or 

 mulching, and generally there may be enough natural rainfall at fruiting time. 

 Any soil that will grow good garden or field crops will grow strawberries. 



Preparing the land. Potatoes, beans, tomatoes, cabbage and other truck 

 crops usually leave the ground in excellent shape for strawberries. This is because 

 they are kept well cultivated and free from weeds for a good part of the season 

 and are usually well manured and fertilized. We have noticed that strawberries 

 do well following cow peas or soy beans. If you can plant rye or some other winter 

 covering it will keep the soil from leaching and afford humus to turn under in 

 spring. Not much top growth from rye though, as the ground should be prepared 

 and plants set as early in spring as weather permits. Mowing down a heavy growth 

 of weeds (before they go to seed), or cowpeas or soy beans, or almost any crop, 

 will protect the ground during the winter and leave it nice and mellow for spring 

 planting. The soil should be constantly enriched by turning under green crops, 

 legumes preferred. Avoid, if possible, sod land, as the white grubs winter over in 

 such lands and cut off the young plants when set the following spring. If you 

 have no other land available, plow the land in the fall, harrowing it as often as 

 you can, and many of the white grubs will be killed out. 



In some sections where large acreage are planted, a small three furrowed list 

 or row is run up with a plow and then leveled off with a rake or drag. This gives a 

 nice soft planting bed, but unless the ground is quite moist, the rows should be 

 run up two or three days before planting to allow the moisture to rise, and then 

 rake off just before planting. Plowing, harrowing thoroughly, and marking off 

 rows is the best for small fields and gardens. It is best for larger fields unless the 

 grower is familiar with other methods that have worked well under his conditions. 



TIME TO PLANT 



Early Spring is the logical, natural, most successful and 

 satisfactory time to set Strawberry plants. So don't neglect 

 setting some plants this Spring, thinking you can make it 

 up by early Fall planting. It can't be done. 



How early? Just as soon as weather permits getting ground ready. In the 

 South, February and March and early April. In the Middle States, March and 

 April. In the Northern States, April. 



Be sure to order early enough so that plants can be right at hand as soon as 

 your ground is ready. Early setting pays big — the plants start quicker, grow better 

 and make better beds than plants set late. 



When a plant grower in the latitude of New York or Massachusetts can dig 

 plants, berry growers in those sections should be setting their plants. This is a big 

 advantage we can give growers in those latitudes. We can dig and ship plants 

 earlier and have them right at hand for early planting. Read testimonial page 31. 



