STRAWBERRY PLANTS OF QUALITY Wee e/ 
SlhawW BERRY GULTURE 
Soil—The fundamental element of 
success in growing any crop is a selec- 
tion of a soil. Strawberries need a well 
drained soil, but still land that will 
retain moisutre as strawberries suffer 
from dry weather more than from any 
other cause. Strawberries require a 
great deal of moisture especially at 
fruiting time, therefore, a moist soil al- 
ways contributes to success. A heavy 
sandy loam or light clay loam is pref- 
erable for a strawberry patch, however, 
good results can be obtained upon the 
lighter soils if springy or if sufficient 
care is taken to retain moisture. As the 
strawberry crop is of more value than 
the ordinary farm crop more care should 
be taken that the soil is in proper con- 
dition and supplied with the proper 
plant food. Strawberries should follow 
some truck crop that has been heavily 
manured if possible, or after cowpeas; 
if neither of these are available rye can 
be sown in the early fall and plowed 
under in the early spring; this will sup- 
ply humus, as strawberries need a soil 
ful of humus: it holds the moisture and 
makes them grow and bear. Strawber- 
ries should not be planted on an old sod 
as it is likely to be infested with grubs; 
such land should at least receive one 
cultivated crop before planting straw- 
berries. 
Selection of Varieties—There are 
many varieties of strawberries. Some 
are sweet, some are sour while some are 
between these; some varieties are firm 
and will stand shipping long distances 
while others are softer and only suited 
for home use or local market. In select- 
ing varieties, one should be guided 
somewhat by the kind of land “avail- 
able whether sandy, loam or clay and 
the market to be supplied, but generally 
speaking, would plant varieties that 
are successfully grown in your vicinity. 
By testing some of the newer varieties 
you may find a variety that will do bet- 
ter and make you more but would not 
plant heavily to them until you or some 
one in your neighborhood had tested 
them. 
Selection of Plants—The selection of 
ube plants you set is more pone 
than many think for the quality of the 
plants you set will largely determine the 
quantity and quality of the fruit you 
secure. It costs considerable to prepare, 
fertilize, plant, cultivate and market an 
acre of strawberries and you cannot af- 
ford to set plants taken from an old 
fruiting bed which are low in vigor and 
fruiting power and also of unknown va- 
riety to save a few cents or dollars be- 
cause inferior fruit always sells for a 
much lower price. The few dollars you 
pay extra per acre to get good plants 
often makes the difference between 
profit and loss at fruiting time. 
PRYOR’S quality plants are fresh dug 
from new beds that have never borne 
a crop of frwt and are full of vitality 
and of heavy fruiting power and should 
srow and produce big crops if instruc- 
tions in this catalogue are followed. We 
dig the whole row, throwing out the ones 
that are not well rooted and are worth 
much more than plants dug from the 
alleys. 
Care of Plants When Received— 
If for any reason you are not quite 
ready to set plants when received, al- 
ways unpack plants, carefully separating 
each variety, and untie bundles and 
heal in V shaped trenches, dampen the 
roots but not the tops, firmsoil around 
them with foot and shade from sun. 
Plants can be kept a month in this way. 
For northern customers I recommend 
this method and advise ordering plants 
shipped early in April when they are 
dormant and will stand handling safely; 
also will be there ready to set at the 
most favorable time. 
Mating Varieties—All pistillate or 
imperfect varieties I list are marked 
(Imp) and in planting one or two good 
perfect varieties marked (Per) of same 
season should be planted every third or 
fourth row to make them fruit. Some 
growers plant the varieties In same row 
using about one-fourth of the perfect 
varieties. It is probably better to plant 
more than one variety in a field because 
of the beneficial effect of cross polleni- 
zation. 
(Continued on 3rd page of Cover) 
Inspection—A Bincates of inspec- 
tion from our State Entomologist and 
State Pathologist will be attached to 
each and every shipment sent out. 
Substitution—You run no risk in 
ordering of me, for should I be sold 
out Sue fhe variety or varieties snordcteds 
I will return your money unless you tell 
me I can substitute, therefore to get 
the particular variety wanted would 
advise ordering as early as possible so 
I can reserve the plants for you. 
