Gar dner E. Bunting, Grower of Fancy Fruits, Selbyville, Del. 
How Plants Feed. 
One hardly would believe that only five per cent, of a strawberry plant comes 
from the soil. Then ninety-five per cent comes from the element.s of atmosphere 
if the atmosphere furnishes such a large percentage of the plants development 
then why IS It necessary to give any thought to soil preparation ? The very poor- 
est soil easily could contribute its small percentage to plant growth if the air would 
furnish the rest. This might be true if the roots, leaves, soil and atmosphere were 
<iot so much dependent one upon the other in order to get these percentages The 
soil must be in a condition to make the bacterial germs comfortable, and to hold 
moisture to dissolve the soil materials. Under such conditions these little microbe 
organisms will properly prepare and separate the matter from the soil, which goes 
to make up the three to five per cent, of the plant. When this .so-termed plant 
food IS properly prepared, it is absorbed by the roots; this crude material which 
<s taken in by the roots, passes upwards into the body af the plant; from there 
the elaborated materials are redistributed through all parts of the inner plant and 
after all it takes a rich soil. 
Ants and Aphis [or Lice]. 
The ants themselves do not do particular injury to the strawberry plant, but 
fheir habits take the aphis and lice from the roots of one plant to another. The 
iice suck the juice from the roots and the softer parts of the plant. The ants are 
steady visitors of the lice to get the honey-like sub.stance taken from the plant bv 
the toiling lice. Thorough cultivation will drive the ants to other quarters as they 
do not enjoy working in freshly-stirred or loose soil. Neither do they like to be 
disturbed in their work. By chasing away the ants, you also rid vour fields of lice, 
as they are themselves perfectly helpless as travelers. A thorough cultivation and 
Koeing aids to discourage all kinds of insects, which add another important item 
in favor of cultivation. Another: way i-s to use carbon bi-sulphide, as foIlbA-s : Use 
:t sharp stick, thrust to a depth of eight or ten inches into the ant hill, pour in one 
full ounce of carbon bi-sulphide and quickly close the opening with the dirt to keep 
down the carbon bi-sulphide fumes, so as to increase their efficieiicv in suffocating 
the ants. 
Working Old Patches. 
Old patches should be worked. This should never be neglected. Although I 
prefer but little to be done. That is, I don't prefer starting just after the plants 
are through fruiting, and then remove every weed, etc,, then cultivate and con- 
tinue cultivating and removing vegetation just as if it were a young patch. Al- 
though that is all right, but I approve of a different way - that is about the first 
of August, after the weeds and grasses have matured their large.st growth, use the 
hay mower, sickle or scythe. Cut the vines and vegetation close to the ground. 
When dry, loosen with fork or hay tedder, tlien burn over the entire patch; unless 
rain comes soon, and a new growth starts before refuse becomes dry enough to 
burn. In such a case do not burn, but rake up the mulching and haul away. Af- 
ter burning or cleaning off the patch, then use a small plow an<l simply throw a 
furrow upon each side of the bed. After this cultivate with cultivator; then cross 
