STRAWBERRY PI^AN'TS OF (JUALITY 



STRAWBERRY CULTURE— Continued 



hv kept a wock or two by mii»ackinjr them carefully scparat iiii;- each Naricly. uiilicliij^ 

 bundles and beelinji' in V-slia])ed trendies. dan»])en the roots, if this has not been done, 

 but not the tops, tirni soil around them with foot and shade from sun. 



Miilcliiii;; — INIideluufi' is the best way to protect the plants from fre<'zinj;- and thawing 

 in winter, to preserve moisture during- a dry season aiul to keep the berries fi-om ^ettinj:: 

 sandy during; a rain. Wheat straw is considered the best material, but rye sti-aw, marsh 

 j;rass. coarse manure (if not lumpy) or similar material may be used. Apply this in the 

 fall and when f>rowth starts in the spring rak(> oft' the beds into tlie middU's between the 

 rows where it serves the purpose of retarding- the jirowth of weeds and also makes pick- 

 ing; easier. 



Cultivation — Cultivation should bejiin as soon as i>ossible after i»lants are set and 

 should continue once a week or ten days, if land is in suitable condition, throu.uii the sum- 

 mer and early fall to keep free from wmhhIs and help retain moisture. Iloe as often as 

 necessary to keep down weeds, but shallow, so as not to disturb the roots. When hoeinj:: 

 the first time be sure to uncover the buds of all plants that have been covered by i>lantin.i; 

 or cultivatiui;. If this is not done they will not amoiuit to very much. The lirst younj^ 

 plants should be encourajied to take root as this will enable them to j-ct started earlier 

 and make better beds and should be trained in the row so they will not be over-crowded 

 especially the varieties that make a .ureal many plants. 



Keiiioviiig the blossoms — This is very important if you wish success with your ijlants 

 for if the plants are allowed to produce fruit they are jireatly weakened. usinj>- the great- 

 er part of their vitality, therefore all blossoms should be removed the first year. On 

 everbearing varieties all blossoms should l)e removed until about the middle of .lul.v, or 

 until they get started good, when they can be allowed to fruit. 



PLANTS AND SERVICE ARE WHAT COUNT 



When You Buy Stiavvberry Plants These Things Are FJssential 



First — ]>e sure the plants are true-to-name. It is discouraging as well as un])rotit- 

 ahh^ to tind at picking time that you have not got the variety you ordered and which may 

 not be suited to your reipiirements. or to tind that you have a mixture of varieties some 

 of which may be worthless. I am very particular with the stock plants I set to see that 

 they are strictly true-to-name and am very particular in digging to make sure they are 

 kept true. 



Set'ond — Plants slioidd be vigorous, healthy, and well-rooted, and dug from new beds 

 that have not produced a crop of fruit. It costs just as nuich to prepare and fertilize, 

 l)lant and care for an acre of poor plants that did uot have vitality enough to grow and 

 make a good fruiting bed as it does an acre of well l>edded fruiting rows — the results of 

 planting vigorous, healthy, well-rooted plants. 



Third — Plants should be fresh dug. well cleaned and graded. They should not only 

 be fresh dug but kept fresh and moist and not allow wind and sun to dry out and wither. 

 Th(> dead leaves and runners should be removed, the small plants thrown out and roots 

 straightened before bunching so as to facilitate planting. 



Fourth — Plants should be grown right. Should be planted on good ground that has 

 l)lenty of plant food and given good care so they will produce healthy ]>lants with large 

 crowns and long bi-ight roots that are full of small fil)r()us roots. Plants like tlu^se are 

 full of vitality and if conditions are at all favorable will grow ami i)r()duce satisfactory 

 results wherever planted. 



Fifth — And last but not least plants should be i)roperly packed in damp moss and 

 sliipped as soon as dug as plants that have been held in storage for some time will not 

 start growing as (pnckly nor do as well as plants that are fresh dug. Pr()mi)tness in 

 digging and sliipping yoiu* order is very essential in having your plants reach you in 

 fresh, good growing condition. 



Sixth — ^ly plants are grown on sandy soil and are famous for their vitality and pro- 

 ductiveness and will please .vou ; in fact my aim and ambition is to fill your order that 

 you will be so well pleased that you will not only order again the next year but will tell 

 your friends and neighbors and they will send me their orders too. That's the kind of 

 advertising that pays. 



