THE W. F. ALLEN CO., SALISBURY, MD. 



crops of cowpeas, clover, rye, or any other cover crop turned under will be full 

 of humus and therefore more retentive of moisture, as well as looser and more 

 easily worked in the case of heavier soils. 



Sod land should be avoided if possible as the white grubs winter over in such 

 land and cut off the young plants soon after they are set the following spring. 

 If you have no other land available, plow the land in the fall, harrowing it during 

 the winter and early spring as often as you can, and many of the grubs will be 

 killed out. 



The land selected should be plowed in early spring. If the field has been 

 selected the preceding fall and rye planted, a heavy sod of rye plowed under 

 in early spring will help, altho, of course, it is not necessary. After the ground 

 is plowed in the spring it should be harrowed thoroughly. If stable manure is 

 to be used (see manure and fertilizer below) we like it best spread broadcast on 

 the land just after it is plowed. Then the land, either with or without the manure, 

 should be disced thoroughly, and, if necessary, dragged to level it up so that a 

 nice, soft, even planting bed is available. 



Setting the Plants. Where commercial fertilizer is to be used under the 

 plants (see below) rows should be run out three or four inches deep with a one- 

 horse plow, the fertilizer drilled into these rows and thoroughly worked in. Then 

 the soil should be thrown back into these furrows and again leveled off. Where 

 considerable acreages are planted, a horse drawn transplanter such as is used for 

 sweet potatoes, tomatoes, tobacco, etc., is often used. To do a good job this 

 way, however, requires skill and experience, if the crowns of the plants are to 

 be left at the proper level with the roots extending straight into the ground and 

 not set on a slant oftentimes near the surface of the ground. A spade, trowel or 

 dibble are the tools most often used in setting the plants. Where one of these is 

 used, they are set down the prepared row with the roots of the plants spread 

 out as much as possible and the bud of the plant just at the surface of the ground. 

 It is also important to press the ground firmly against the roots and to see that 

 enough dirt is filled in near the crown of the plant so that the top of the roots 

 will not be left exposed. Where the fertilizer is not put under the plants, the 

 rows can merely be laid off with a marker and the plants set by any of the methods 

 suggested down the marked row instead of down the fertilized row. 



Clipping the roots is not necessary nor helpful if you can get the roots of the 

 plants in the soil without being doubled up. It is better, however, to clip the 

 roots somewhat than to have them doubled up in the ground. Where a horse- 

 drawn transplanter is used, it is probably better to clip the roots any way to 

 expedite handling the plants, unless they are very small. 



GOOD ROOT SYSTEM 



Nolan Co., Texas, Feb. 2, 1927. 

 I received my strawberry plants today, and have them set out. If I am any judge of good 

 plants, they are fine, as they have such a good root system. G. K. CORLEY. 



IN FINE SHAPE TO OREGON 



Lincoln Co., Ore., Dec. 13, 1926. 

 It's a long ways from the Atlantic to the Pacific, but those Chesapeake strawberry plants 

 have arrived in fine shape. They are planted and covered with hay. Many thanks. 



JOHN STEIGER. 



STRONG PLANTS IN GOOD CONDITION 



Windham Co., Conn., May 6, 1927. 

 I received your plants May 4th in very good condition. They seem like very strong plants, 

 and I thank you for good and prompt service. MANNING ANDERSON. 



10,000 MILES IN PERFECT ORDER 



Woolston, Christchurch, New Zealand. 

 Please send me your Berry Book at earliest convenience. I received a few thousand Big Joe 

 and Premier from you last season, which arrived in perfect order and were, in my opinion, a credit 

 to you, considering they had travelled about 10,000 miles before we received them. I will be send- 

 ing in another order at a later date. ROBERT LLOYD. 



