482 



GROWING STRAWBERRIES 



Strawberries seem to prefer an acid soil for best growth 

 and production. Ordinarily, therefore, the addition of lime 

 would be detrimental. However, different growers and inves- 

 tigators have found that strawberries are sometimes benefited 

 by the addition of some lime on soils which are very acid. In 

 other words, extreme acidity may sometimes be reduced, but 

 the soil should still be left in an acid condition for the best 

 results. 



(c) Shall irrigation be practiced? In some of the com- 

 mercial sections of the Far West the strawberry is grown 

 commonly under irrigation. Frequently it is an intercrop in 

 irrigated orchards. 



Irrigated strawberry fields in the East are less common than 

 on the Pacific Coast but are by no means unusual. Quite 

 extensive irrigation projects occur in southern New Jersey, 

 and small installations are generally distributed throughout 

 the Northern states. Their use seems to be increasing. 



The strawberry plant with its shallow root system is quickly 

 affected by lack of moisture in the upper soil. The lighter 

 soil types, on which this fruit is commonly grown, are natu- 

 rally affected by drought more quickly than the heavier loams. 

 Very frequently there is a lack of moisture at harvest time, 

 especially for the pickings toward the end of the season. This 

 causes the fruit to run small and materially reduces the yield. 

 In extreme cases the entire crop, representing a year's invest- 

 ment, may be ruined. The strawberry may suffer from lack 

 of moisture at times other than the harvest season, limiting 

 the formation of new plants and causing a poor stand in the 

 rows. 



In sections where the natural rainfall is sufficient in normal 

 seasons, the use of irrigation is questionable. If the land 

 may be used in rotation for growing other crops which give a 

 high return per acre, and which also benefit from irrigation, 

 such as truck and garden crops, then the argument for irriga- 

 tion is strengthened. 



If the grower possesses a market for large fancy fruit at 



