STRAWBERRY PLANTS OF QUALITY 



STRA\VBERRY CULTURE 



Soil — The fundamental element of 

 success in growing any crop is a se- 

 lection of a soil. Strawberries need 

 a well drained soil, but still land that 

 will retain moisture as strawberries 

 suffer from dry weather more than 

 from any other cause. Strawberries 

 require a great deal of moisture es- 

 pecially at fruiting time, therefore, 

 a moist soil always contributes to suc- 

 cess. A heavy sandy loam or light 

 clay loam is preferable for a straw- 

 berry 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 ordi- 

 nary farm crop more care should be 

 taken that the soil is in proper con- 

 dition and supplied with the proper 

 plant food. Strawberries should fol- 

 low some truck crop that has been 

 heavily manured if possible, or after 

 cow peas; if neither of these are 

 available rye can be sown in the early 

 fall and plowed under in early spring 

 this will supply humus as strawber- 

 ries need a soil full of humus it holds 

 the moisture and makes them grow 

 and bear. Strawberries 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 to strawberries. 



Planting" — In the northern states 

 strawberries should be planted as ear- 

 ly in the spring as the ground can be 

 worked; in the south plants may be 

 set any time from Nov. 1st to April 

 1st. When setting plants care should 

 be taken not to let the plants be ex- 

 posed to the wind and sun. The roots 

 should be kept damp and set in moist 

 soil. There are several methods of 

 planting, I use a two horse trans- 

 planter as it is a saving in labor, but 

 whatever method is used care should 

 be taken not to set the plants too deep 

 or to shallow the depth as grown in 

 the nursery row being just right. The 

 rows should be SV2 to 4 feet apart for 

 the matted row system and plants set 

 15 to 28 inches apart according to var- 

 iety; varieties making few plants like 

 Chesapeake should be set 15 ins. and 

 prolific plant makers like Dunlap, 

 Klondyke or Missionary can be set 26 

 or 28 ins. apart; most other varieties 

 should be set 20 to 24 ins. apart in the 



The roots of our Strawberry plants 



row. To get plants started to growing- 

 early a light application of fertilizer 

 should be made before planting but 

 I desire to warn my customers against 

 the too heavy application of commer- 

 cial fertilizer to young strawberry 

 plants. Many plants have been injured 

 and often killed outright, but 400 or 

 500 pounds will not hurt them provid- 

 ed it is well scattered and then culva- 

 ted in before setting or put in two 

 weeks earlier. I always make another 

 application of fertilizer in the sum- 

 mer to make stronger better rooted 

 plants using about 400 pounds to the 

 acre. 



Cultivation — Cultivation should be- 

 gin as soon as possible after plants 

 are set and should continue once a 

 week or 10 days if land is in suitable 

 condition, through the summer and 

 early fall to keep clean and help re- 

 tain moisture. Hoe as often as neces- 

 sary to keep down weeds but shallow 

 so as not to disturb the roots. Blos- 

 soms should be removed the first sea- 

 son except on everbearers and these 

 should be kept off until about the 

 middle of July. 



