8 
GREAT CROPS OF STRAWBERRIES AND HOW TO GROW THEM 
R. M. Kellogg Co., Three Rivers, Mich. 
THOROUGHBREDS CROWING IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS 
ALFRED TAYLOR of Thomson, 111., in enclosing the photograph which we reproduce above, says: "This patch is from 
plants bought of the R. M. Kellogg Company and the varieties shown are August Luther, Senator Dunlap and Dornan. The 
plants are set in rows threeand one-half feet apartand the runners had been cut back until July or August. The photograph 
was taken in September." 
be worked thoroughly into the soil before set- 
ting the plants. If possible, the fertilizer 
should be worked into the soil at least two 
weeks before the plants are set. This gives 
time for the moisture in the soil to remove 
some of the heating qualities from the fertil- 
izer which, if it came in contact with the roots 
of the plants while at full strength , might cause 
some injury. In fact, any kind of fertilizer, 
whether barnyard manure or commercial, 
should be worked into the soil just as long be- 
fore the plants are set as possible, and the more 
thoroughly any kind of fertilizer is worked 
into the soil the better will be the results. 
What Kind of Soil Is Best? 
WHEN you understand that the soil is 
merely a dish from which plants feed, 
, you will then not lay so much stress 
upon the character of the soil itself. More 
depends upon the way soil is prepared 
gj^*^ than it does upon the kind of soil; how- 
ever, soil should be treated according 
to the character of the soil in which you 
are working. For instance, a stiff clay soil 
will require more humus matter than a loose 
sandy soil, and in preparing clay soil we must 
not press it down too firmly in preparing for 
Black 
Soil 
the plants; roll just enough to break up the 
clods, if there be any, and to level the sur- 
face, and if the soil be very stiff and heavy 
we would suggest that you harrow just as 
fast as the ground is broken up. By doing 
this the clods will be mellow and will crumble 
to pieces so that no rolling will be necessary. 
IJEAVY black soil may be prepared in about 
the same manner as the clay soil, with 
the exception of the manure. As a rule, black 
soil is very rich in nitrogen and will 
give better results with a very light 
dressing of manure than it will with a 
heavy dressing. About fifty bushels of wood 
ashes scattered over the surface of either 
clay or stiff black soil will greatly improve 
its texture as well as its chemical condition. 
The lime in the ashes will assist in breaking 
up the stiffness of the soil and in holding it 
more loosely than would be possible without 
the use of lime. 
IN preparing sandy soil it should be plowed 
quite deeply and pressed down very firmly. 
We suggest this because the particles of sand, 
unless they are pressed down very 
firmly, will admit an over-supply of 
air into the soil, which will dry it out 
quickly and also will cause the bacterial germs 
Sandy 
Soil 
