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 3 A 

 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, \ X A 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 



Good morning — Your most wonderful of all 

 strawberry catalogs received. I thought you 

 might enjoy hearing this little bit: On Sunday, 

 Jan. 14th, it was the monthly meeting of our 

 Organic Club — and the program was: "Cat- 

 alogs — new and old favorites. Members 

 were asked to bring their favorite catalogs. 

 Well, a stranger came to the meeting, but 

 not a stranger long. He joined the club 

 and best of all, he brought your catalog — 

 and so, those who do not receive it are 

 most anxious to get a copy. About a week 

 prior to the meeting I had seen your ad in 

 some garden magazine, wrote for a copy and 

 it came in the mail the very next day after 

 our meeting on the 14th. Needless to say it 

 is all one could expect and what all straw- 

 berry growers need. Enclosed are two lists 

 of names to mail your book to. I am not 

 sending this list for your offer of free plants 

 for only 3 friends and my order for plants — 

 but because your book on plants is so won- 

 derful I feel they must know about your 



P lants - Mrs. C. F. Russell 



Moweaqua, III. 



Dear Aliens: I received the 100 Surecrop 

 plants today, along with the 25 Sparkle. 

 These are the most beautiful plants I have 

 ever seen, and they arrived in such fresh 

 condition. I agree that your plants are the 

 standard of the Nation, as I have ordered 

 plants from many other nurseries and yours 

 are always larger, fresher plants and get off 

 to a better start and produce a lot better 

 berries than all the rest, so from now on, all 

 my plants will be ordered from Aliens. I 

 enclose my order for 100 Sunrise plants and 

 sure hope you can supply, as Sunrise pro- 

 duce heavy in this area and the berries are 

 a beautiful sight, wonderful for a frozen pack. 



Wade Birchfield 

 Asheville, N. C. 



W. F. Allen Co., People who are not pleased 

 or satisfied with the plant* they buy almost 

 always complain — so if a person is pleased 

 and satisfied, why shouldn't they say so! 

 I've never had such wonderful plants as 

 those which I bought this spring. So far, 

 out of 100 Catskill, none have died, the same 

 for the 100 Surecrop. I believe out of the 

 100 Midland only three have died. We have 

 picked blossoms off and still have more to 

 take off. When I passed the rows yesterday, 

 I saw that some of the Catskill had begun 

 to send out runners. Truly, your plants are 

 sure a wonderful lot this year. I felt you 

 might welcome praise from me even though 

 I only purchased 300 plants. I am really more 

 than pleased. Mrg John c Davjs 



Wallkill, N. Y. 



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