MAKING IDEAL SOIL CONDITIONS FOR STRAWBERRY PLANTS. 
THE head tool pulled by four horses is a double action, cutaway disc, which cuts and mixes the soil. Follow- 
ing this is an Acme harrow for pulverizing and mixing; then comes a leveller and a large steel roller followmg 
in the rear These tools put tne soil in a most perfect condition, which aids wonderfully m growmg a healthy crop. 
break the ground in the fall, then spread manure 
on top and work it into the soil with disc or har- 
row; drill five pecks of rye to each acre; and if 
the weather is favorable, it will make a good 
growth before winter. This will take up the 
plant food and hold it in reserve for the straw- 
berry plants which are to be set the following 
spring. It also will act as a mulch during the 
winter and prevent the soil from puddling. 
Turn the rye under in the early spring. Pro- 
viding circumstances will not permit of fall 
preparation, the next best thing to do is to spread 
the manure on the ground in the winter and 
early spring and break it up as soon as condi- 
tions will permit. The winter rains will leach 
the juices from the manure and it will be ab- 
sorbed by the soil grains. Before setting plants 
the vegetable part of this manure should be 
thoroughly mixed into the soil to make it spongy 
for the purpose of holding moisture. 
How to Handle Manure 
MANURE left in heaps and exposed for a 
considerable time to the air, when not 
frozen, loses one-third of the nitrogen, 
one-fifth of the potassium and one seventh of the 
phosphorus. This has been proved by exper- 
ments made by the department of agriculture. 
These facts furnish a powerful argument in 
favor of protecting it from sun and rain. Or, 
better still, haul and spread it as soon as made. 
Where this latter cannot be done we recommend 
a cheap shed where the manure may be thrown, 
and by keeping it tramped firm will lessen the 
danger of burning. A layer of manure and then 
a layer of dust or soil is an ideal method. 
Land plaster also is good to keep ammonia 
from escaping. To mix manure from the cat- 
tle stable with that which comes from the horse 
stalls is a good plan, providing it is kept well 
packed to exclude air. 
Commercial Fertilizer. 
A TON of fresh barn-yard manure of good 
average quality contains twelve and 
three-fourths pounds of nitrogen, six and 
one-fourth pounds of phosphorus and thirteen 
and one-half pounds of potassium. Its eflect is 
to make natural plant food available, a large 
part of which otherwise would remain locked 
up. During this process nitrogen seems to be- 
come available in excess both of potassium and 
phosphorus, and here is where commercial fer- 
tilizer comes in good play. Applying 400 
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