STRAWBERRY FARMING. 



FALL VS. SPRING PLANTING PROSPECTS OF THE BUSIN 



V( (i- METHODS OF CULTURE ON 



TRAWBERRIES are the most popu- 

 lar of garden fruits. The follow- 

 ing statements of observation and 

 experience from many different 

 sections show plainly that no 

 one system will do for all. In 

 each section and locality, the method of culture 

 best adapted to the present conditions can be de- 

 termined only by the practical experience of grow- 

 ers in that locality. 



Where Strawberries pay Big Profits. — We have 

 sold strawberries from a single acre in one season enough 

 to return us |i,7oo. This is the highest sum reached as 

 yet from a single acre, but we expect to do better with 

 the Hilton Gem. Our average is about $i,ooo per acre. 

 I grow only four acres each season. Hilton is a small 

 village about three miles from Newark, and when I 

 came here some twenty years ago, no strawberries were 

 grown for market, and I am the first person that ever 

 took a wagon load of large berries to New York. I re- 

 ceived for that load from 40 to 75 cents per quart, at 

 wholesale, in June. I am the owner of Seth Boyden 

 Farm. Boyden was the first originator of large berries. 

 He died about 21 years ago, when I bought the place. I 

 found but three rows of plants, nine feet long each, of 

 Boyden No. 30. From that little bed of plants I set one 

 acre and sold the second season $1, 180 worth. We do not 

 grow the Boyden No. 30 now, but a far better berry, a 

 cross from it. If Mr. Boyden could only come back here 

 now and seeour berries, it would make him smile, I know. 

 We grow berries now that throw his all into the shade. 

 "Being so near the city I get manure cheap — about 50 

 cents per one horse load. I use at least 60 loads per acre 

 each season. I would advise only those who own good 

 land and live near some large town or city to grow 

 strawberries for profit. Being so near New York, we 

 send in each night by wagons about i , 300, 000 quarts from 

 Hilton alone. When I bought this farm the boys of the 

 village worked for me at from |i to $1.25 per day. They 

 soon learned the business, rented land, one to two 

 acres each at first and began to grow berries. Now 

 those same boys are men, and rich men too, own their 

 land and keep their horses and carriages. I own other 

 land now, but the original Boyden place contains but 

 nine acres. I keep an account of the produce sold from 

 it, pears, grapes, strawberries and raspberries, and I 

 have averaged for the past fifteen years from it the in- 

 terest at six per cent, on $72,000. I have enough now 

 to last me the rest of my days, and only write this that 

 others may do well who wish. I expect that those who 



ESS VARIETIES IN LIGHT OF RECENT EXPERIENCE 



LY THE BEST CAN WIN. 



come after us here will throw us, as we throw Seth Boy- 

 den, into the shade. — Henry Jerolaman, N. J. 



Fall Planting is a Failure. — With us fall plant- 

 ing is a failure, as the plants are not able to grow 

 enough to fasten themselves to the ground. The 

 consequence is that they are heaved out badly by 

 frosts. Farther south the fall planting will do per- 

 haps, but not in this section. For the growing of 

 strawberries as a business we would say that a man 

 would have to run it as part of a general fruit farm ; by 

 growing slrawberries alone a man could not support 

 himself. In connection with other fruits we think it a 

 fairly lucrative business, and a fruit farm would not be 

 doing all that it could without this berry on its grounds. 

 The grower should exercise great care in selecting the 

 varieties suited to the soil and climate ; Bubach, Haver- 

 land, Gandy, Chas. Downing, Wilson and Crescent do 

 the best for us. — Jos. H. Black & Son, iV. J. 



Spring Planting for Kansas. — I have a few plants 

 that were planted last fall, that are not near so large 

 and thrifty as those planted the past spring. If one 

 was wise enough to know just what sort of a season he 

 would have from August 20 to Oftober 20, then he 

 could determine whether to plant or not. If it was known 

 to the planter that it would be showery weather for 

 three weeks after planting, then it would pay to plant in 

 the fall or late in August. Climatic influence has much 

 to do with the success in growing all berry crops. Sev- 

 eral years ago I planted an acre of strawberries about 

 the middle of October to avoid the dry weather usual 

 in early fall. The plants did well till midwinter, 

 when we had alternately freezing and thawing. This 

 patch was a failure and it had to be replanted in the 

 spring. If one is so situated that he can irrigate, plant- 

 ing strawberries may be done at any time of the year 

 when the ground is not frozen. — B. F. Smith, A'ansas. 



Fall Planting a Prevention of the Grub, but 

 Spring Planting Preferred. — By planting in fall the 

 white grub may be largely avoided, as his ravages affect 

 us in late summer often ruining large plantations. 

 On the contrary, when planted in fall we have for fruit 

 only young plants which cannot bear the fruit that 

 large, strong stools can which have had the runners 

 kept off till they make a hill that a bushel basket would 

 hardly cover. That is where the volume of fruit comes 

 from ; again, the early fall is often liable to be dry or in 

 condition to render planting at that season quite preca- 

 rious, and even if sufficiently moist to start the plants, 

 the covering or mulching is a great item where wheat 

 raising is only a small industry, and strawberry growing 

 a large one. We have had to pay as high as $9 a ton 



