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Pointers on Planting 
We would not be content to merely ship you an order of 
plants and display no further interest in the success of your 
We want these plants to grow well and produce 
abundant crops that will make you always glad you relied on 
Rayners for the best in plants. 
pages the important phases of plant culture. 
receive full planting information with your order and you are 
always welcome to write for additional information or advice. 
We are outlining on these 
You will also 
Growing Strawberries 
Strawberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow. Good plants set at the proper season 
in good soil will respond with ordinary care and cultivation. 
There is nothing complicated 
about growing strawberries, and by following these easy instructions the beginner can assure 
good results. 
Soil Requirements—Strawberries can be produced 
in abundance on any good garden soil or land that 
has produced satisfactory crops of garden or reg- 
ular field crops. Land that has had thorough 
cultivation is best but if vacant lot, garden space 
or field that has been unattended has a rank 
growth of weeds and grass this an indication that 
the soil is fertile enough to grow excellent crops 
of strawberries. 
Preparing The Land—The land should be plowed 
or dug as early in the spring as possible and work- 
- ed until a level plant bed is formed. An appli- 
- eation of horse, cow, hog or sheep manure at the 
' rate of 1 bushel for every 50 square feet is good if 
, applied before plowing or worked well into the 
soil. However, if previous crops have been well 
fertilized, good results may be expected without 
further fertilizing. (See paragraph on Fertilizer 
and Manure). When planning to set additional 
ground in strawberries it is well to consider plow- 
ing under a late summer crop of such green manure 
as peas, beans and other grasses or cover crops, 
or even natural weed growth. Plowing under 
while green will cause cover crops to rot much 
faster and also help destroy weed seeds. Early 
fall sowing of cover crops for discing under as 
early as possible in spring is also a good practice. 
Planting Methods—If plants are to be set in rows, 
mark off rows 3% to 4 feet apart from center to 
center so that rows will be about 2 feet wide when 
bedded and ample alleys will be left for cultivation. 
For the small garden and hand cultivation spacing 
may be narrower if desired. Plants should be set 
about 18 inches apart. In setting plants the most 
important points are to have the roots straight 
down with the soil packed firmly along entire root 
length and crown even with the surface. Proper 
depth is very important, but is easily established 
by following the illustration in these directions. 
If roots are too long (some varieties are much 
longer rooted than others) the roots may be 
clipped to a length of 4 or 5 inches without damage 
to the plants. 
Readying The Plants For Setting—Plants from 
RAYNERS will come to you thoroughly cleaned 
with roots straightened and ready to set into the 
ground. Before setting, the roots should be cover- 
ed with water so that they may soak up all mois- 
ture possible to hold them in good condition until 
the feeder roots begin their job. Before and dur- 
ing planting, keep plants protected from sun and 
Wind and keep them thoroughly moist. IF 
PLANTS CANNOT BE SET SOON AFTER AR- 
RIVAL they should be removed from the crate, 
the package material moistened, and then be re- 
packed loosely. Stored in a cool, damp place they 
will keep in good condition three or four days. 
Ik PLANTS MUST BE KEPT LONGER, they 
should be placed in cold storage around 32 degrees 
or if this is not convenient they should be heeled 
In. This is done by digging a V-shaped trench 
four or five inches deep. Spread plants thinly so 
Soil contacts all roots and pack soil firmly up even 
with crowns of plants (note illustration). Water 
thoroughly and keep shaded if weather turns warm. 
_ RAYNER BROTHERS ARE RELIABLE 
os 
If weather turns colder a light covering of straw 
or other mulch will protect plants until ready for 
setting. 
Cultivation—Frequent cultivation will keep the 
ground from becoming crusted and will greatly re- 
tard weed growth. Plants should be hoed soon 
after set and any plants too deep or too shallow 
should be attended to. Be sure crowns are not 
covered as this will smother the plant and cause it 
to die. If roots are exposed there is danger of 
drying out. (See illustration). Hoe and cultivate 
shallow to avoid disturbing the roots. After plant 
bed is formed plants should not be allowed to be- 
come too dense. About 7 plants per square foot 
is considered ample and extra plants may be cut 
out with the hoe. A well spaced row provides 
more and better fruit. 
Removing Blossoms—F lower stems usually appear 
on strawberry plants soon after they are set in 
the field and as the production of fruit on newly 
set plants is a severe drain on their vitality, the 
flower stems should be removed as_ blossoms 
appear. This will materially help the number of 
hew runner plants and give them a much. better 
fruiting bed. WITH EVERBEARING PLANTS 
the blossoms should be removed until the plants 
are well established. This will usually require 
about sixty to ninety days. 
Time To Plant—Early spring, just as early as the 
ground can be worked, is the best time to set straw- 
berry plants. Light frosts that do not heave the 
ground will not injure the newly set plants. 
PLANT EARLY while plants are fully dormant 
and the weather is most favorable to good growth. 
Early planting is the most important single factor 
in successful strawberry culture. April in the 
North; to May 15 in the far North; March and 
April in the Middle States; November to April in 
the South. 
