STRAWBERRY PLANTS OF QTIALITY 



STRAWBERRY CULTURE--(Continued) 



Mulching — Mnleliing is the best way to protect the plants from freezing and thawing 

 in winter, to preserve moisture during a dry season and to keep the berries from getting 

 sandy during a rain. Wheat straw is considered the best material, l)ut rye straw, marsh 

 grass, coarse manure (if not lumpy) or similar material may be used. Apply this in the 

 fall and when growth starts in the spring rake off the beds into the middles between the 

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

 ing easier. 



Cultivation — Cultivation should begin as soon as possible after plants are set and 

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

 mer and early fall to keep free from w^eeds and help retain moisture. Iloe as often as 

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

 the first time be sure to uncover the buds of all plants that have been covered by planting 

 or cultivating. If this is not done they will not amount to very much. The first young 

 plants should be encouraged to take root as this w^ill enable them to get 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 great many plants. 



Removing the blossoms — This is very important if you wish success with your plants 

 for if the plants are allowed to produce fruit they are greatly weakened, using the great- 

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

 everbearing varieties all blossoms should be removed until about the middle of July, or 

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



PLANTS AND SERVICE ARE WHAT COUNT 



When You Buy Strawberry Plants These Things Are Essential 



First — Be sure the plants are true-to-name. It is discouraging as well as unprofit- 

 able to find at picking time that you have not got the variety you ordered and which may 

 not be suitable to your requirements, or to find 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 vei'y particular in digging to make sure they are 

 kept true. 



Second — Plants should be vigorous, healthy, and well -rooted, and dug from new beds 

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

 plant and care for an acre of poor plants that did not have vitality enough to grow and 

 make a good fruiting bed as it does an acre of well bedded fruiting rows — the result 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. 

 The dead leaves and runners should be removed, the small plants thrown out and roots 

 straightened before bunching so as to facilitate planting. 



Fourth — And last but not least plants should be properly packed in damp moss and 

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

 start growing as quickly nor do as well as plants that are fresh dug. Promptness in 

 digging and shipping your order is very essential in having your ijlants reach j^ou in 

 fresh, good growing condition. 



As to whether my plants and service are upto the above specifications I refer you 

 to the letters printed in this catalogue. My aim and ambition is to fill your order so you 

 will be so well pleased that you will not only order next year but that some of your 

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

 pays. 



Ulster Co., N. Y., March 17th, 1936 

 Dear Sir : — Enclosed please find small order for plants. Two years ago you shipped 

 me 1000 plants than which I never saw better ones. Last year 1 sold from these 54 crates 

 (32 qt.) besides using all we could use in the house, and we have a large family. As for 

 quality had everything in this section stopped. The grocer who used the most I sold 

 could sell no others as long as he had mine on display. Do you wonder I came back and 

 will be for larger order next vear. 



P. D. Grant 



