14 
R. M. KELLOaa'S GREAT CROPS OP 
engraving^. The larvae feed on the roots of 
grass and are often found so thick in old June 
grass sod or pastures as to destroy it. They 
are passionately fond of strawberry roots 
and great care should be exercised not to set 
plants on ground infested with them. They 
remain in this larval state for two or three 
years, doing the most damage the second 
season. 
Grubs similar to these are often found in 
manure and old wood, but that kind does not 
eat roots and is therefore harmless. As 
there are so many kinds it will be safer to 
send some of those found in your ground to 
the entomologist at your State Agricultural 
College and ascertain if they are the true 
May beetle. They can be sent by mail. 
They verj' rarely or never lay their eggs in 
fresh cultivated ground so that if the land 
has been in any hoed crop for two or three 
years previous there will be very little dan- 
ger. Examine old strawberry beds carefully 
before resetting. 
MANAGING PICKERS. 
Berry pickers will do their work very 
nicely if they are sure they will get caught 
if they do dirty work. Place a stake at the 
end of each row and number them consecu- 
tively. Make an alphabetical list of pickers 
and when they commence on a row the 
superintendent places the number of the 
stake opposite the picker's name, so if the 
picker gets away before the superintendent 
has a chance to inspect the work he can 
tell just who to look to if berries are not 
properly picked or foliage of plants are 
mussed or injured. Allow no berries to be 
picked which are not fully ripe and no ripe 
berries left on the vines to decay. Berries 
too small to sell should be picked to relieve 
the plant from maturing so many seeds, 
especially if plantation is to be carried over 
to next year. 
Maintain a military discipline. Don't ar- 
gue with pickers as to how the work should 
be done. Uon't scold and fret at them, be 
kind but firm and give your orders clearly 
and pos»itively. 
Keep a blackboard in the packing house 
where all can see it daily. Place the name 
of each picker on it and grade their conduct 
when at work from one to ten, putting the 
figures opposite their name every day. 
This will make them sensitive about their 
standing and you will have very little 
trouble. 
Make a positive rule that no talking shall 
be done in the field, only necessary questions 
about their work. A loud mouthed picker 
who is always finding fault is a nuisance 
and should be discharged at once. Adopt a 
regular system of fines ranging from one to 
ten cents and enforce it. This is much 
more effective and will prevent the offense 
being repeated. Never call to a picker in 
a loud voice and attract the attention of all 
the others, but let the superintendent go to 
him quietly and set the example of silent 
work. 
The best berries can be easily spoiled by 
bad picking. Teach them to pick the stem 
and not pull off the fruit so as to muss the 
berries. Put the big berries in the bottom 
of the box and fill the box up well and face 
them by turning the points of berries up on 
top, which makes them look very beautiful. 
It will be a pleasant surprise to your cus- 
tomers when they empty the box and find 
the big berries in the bottom, and they will 
tell it to their neighbors. A high reputation 
for honesty is the best capital in any busi- 
ness. 
Use tickets to settle 
in the field or a con- 
ductor's punch and a 
ticket printed so you 
can punch out the 
number of quarts 
picked and pay pick- 
ers at the end of the 
week. 
We pay one cent 
per quart for berries 
grown in hills and 
one and one-half 
cents for matted row , 
and at close of season 
for those who have 
remained all through 
we pay one-fourth 
cent per quart more. 
Reward your pickers 
by a picnic dinner at the lake or some dis- 
tant grove where you can drive with wagons. 
They will greatly appreciate it and it will 
help you to secure the best pickers in the 
community. 
RUSHIRE 
FRUIT FARM 
Picker's Card. 
(Not Transferable.) 
For 
a 
'5' 
4 qts. 
WINTER PROTECTION. 
In the case oC strawberries it is not the 
freezing that does the injury. On many 
soils, especially clay, when the ground 
freezes all night and thaws under the influ- 
ence of the bright sun the ground contracts 
and expands and thus heaves the plants up, 
pulling the roots loose which weakens them. 
Now if we place some coarse litter over the 
plants merely to shade them from the sun to 
prevent thawing during the day and the 
frost comes out very slowly, no injury can 
result. 
'flie plant must have air for its foliage 
even if frozen solid, hence any heavy, dense 
mass like manure will smother and injure it. 
The strong ammonia washing down from 
manure is very bad for the foliage and it 
should never be placed directly on the 
plants, but it may serve a good purpose in 
conserving moisture between the rows> 
Light chaff, straw or marsh hay may be 
used. 
In the .springr if the mulch has been 
applied between the rows heavily enough 
we rake off from directly over the plants to 
allow the leaves and stems to come up 
through the mulch, and leave it until after 
the picking is done. If the mulch has been 
applied only on the plants and none between 
the rows we cultivate not over one inch 
