« 
A PYRAMID OF AROMA BERRIES 
^ROMA ranks as one of the very best of the late varieties, and throuKhout Missouri. Kansas and Oklahoma is one of the most 
^ popular varieties ever prrown. This popularity is extending to other sections as Aroma becomes better known and oXs 
S^ntv.'"^ "Tfl"^" ^"•"■^ ^^^^ unusually beautiful and delicious berry It° pro- 
ductiveness, firmness and fine flavor mark it as one of the permanent varieties, and as this is the twenty-first y^r of selection 
and restriction in our testine block we are pleased to report that its high quality is more than maintained with the^assing years 
dissolved by the moisture in the soil, and the 
plants immediately show the effect of the treat- 
ment. In applying the soda, however, great care 
must be observed, as it will burn and destroy any 
plant life with which it comes into actual contact. 
Put on an old pair of gloves and scatter the soda 
by hand, being careful to see that none of it 
lodges upon the foliage. 
IF in the autumn your plants indicate lessened 
vitality, we advise that they be given a good 
dressing of well-rotted stable manure just before 
the mulching is applied. This manure will be- 
come available through the action of melting 
Methods of snows and spring rains, and it is 
Sti^nlatinaPlants Titl^ullnt '111^^^^^^ 
as above described. The third way of stimulat- 
ing the plants is, in the early spring, to draw the 
mulching away from the center of the rows and 
cultivate. This work should be done after all 
danger from frost is past, but this cultivation 
never should be done while plants are blooming, 
unless the soil is sufficiently moist to prevent dust 
from flying. We repeat what has been said 
above, that the looking after the plants in this 
way gives a double assurance of success in the 
growing of strawberries. 
IN preparing for the setting of strawberry plants, 
where irrigation is to be practiced, an imple- 
ment known as a corrugator always should be 
used. These tools may be set to make two fur- 
rows at a time three and one-half feet apart. 
Strawberries Un- After the furrows are made, run 
derirriMtinn Water into them until the soil on 
der Irrigation ^^^^j^ ^j^^g ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ 
oughly wet. When the soil is sufficiently dry to 
work, set a row of plants along the side of each 
furrow, about four inches from the edge; or, you 
may set closer to the edge if the ground is so 
level that it will not wash. As soon as a row is 
completed, the water should be turned into the 
furrow and permitted to run until the soil receives 
a thorough soaking. Under these conditions the 
feeding roots immediately will start to grow. Let 
the furrows remain undisturbed until after the 
plants have been irrigated a second time, or un- 
til they are sufficiently grown to make a row so 
plainly marked that you can follow it easily 
when cultivating. Cultivation should be con- 
tinued for a week or ten days, or until the plants 
plainly show they require more moisture; then 
again irrigate. Continue this alternate irrigating 
and cultivating throughout the entire growing 
season, being careful to irrigate only as moist- 
ure is needed. By pursuing this course your 
plants will be hardy and productive. As to the 
Preparation of the soil in sections where straw- 
erries are to be grown under irrigation, the same 
processes should be followed as are indicated in 
other portions of this book. 
IN some sections where irrigation is practiced, 
and this is especially true in California, growers 
prefer the ridge system for handling their straw- 
berries. Where this is desired, take an ordinary 
breaking plow and throw two furrows together. 
This will make quite a broad ridge. 
The ridges should be placed about 
three and one-half to four feet 
apart. After the ridges are thrown up, draw a 
roller or float over them so as to make the tops 
flat and firm. Then turn the water into the fur- 
rows between the ridges until the soil is soaked 
to the very top of the ridge. Then set two rows 
of plants on the outer edges of the ridge. These 
rows will be from twelve to fifteen inches apart, 
and the plants may be set from twelve to fifteen 
inches apart in the rows. Keep off all runners. 
The Ridge Sys- 
tem in Practice 
