^ ^^^^l^^Ml SMALL FRUITS AND HOW HE GROWS THEM I' S^^^^^^^^ 
The full matted row should have the tops mowed 
off, not too close, and mulch stirred up so it will 
dry and then wait for a high wind so the fire will 
pass over rapidly and burn all annual weeds, 
insects and fungi. 
I wish to emphasize three things : 
First. This burning must be done imme- 
diately after the picking season is over. The 
plants are now utterly e.xhausled. The old leaves 
and roots die, a spark of life remaining only in the 
crown. The plant remains in this dormant con- 
dition only a few days, when new leaves start and 
new roots come out, above the old ones. The old 
foliage is an injury to the plant because it is often 
more or less affected with fungi and the spores are 
liable to yo to the new leaves and should therefore 
te destroyed. 
It must not be burned after this new growth 
starts, or the plants will be killed or greatly 
injured. 
Second. A good, strong wind must prevail, to 
drive the fire over the ground rapidly, when there 
will be no danger of heating the crowns. 
If there is an abundance of mulch, it is better 
not to mow the plants off. Put the mulch on the 
row so it will destroy all the old leaves. 
Third. To cultivate the same day of the burn- 
ing. The pickers tread the ground down hard, 
making capillary attraction perfect, so the water 
will draw up to the surface to be carried off by the 
wind and hot sun and the ground will soon dry out 
below the roots and the plants will die. 
I have heard of plants being killed by burning, 
but in every case some of these things have been 
neglected. We have burned over our beds every 
season for many years and never had a bed injured. 
In a few weeks the bed will look like a new spring 
set field. As all annual weeds are killed but very 
little hand work is required. 
It is important to cultivate so as to throw about 
an inch of fine earth over the plants as the new 
roots come out above the old ones and the crown 
of the plant is raised up every year. This also act-s 
as a mulch to conserve moisture. The full matted 
row should be narrowed up to about a foot in width. 
WINTER PROTECTION. 
In the case of strawberries it is not the freezing 
that does the injury. On many soils, especially 
clay, when the ground freezes all night and thaws 
the next day under the influence 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. 
The 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 spring 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 deep and 
then rake part off to the edge of the row to keep 
the berries clean. 
NEW VARIETIES. 
Our experimental grounds for testing new 
varieties are carefully conducted. Parties having 
new seedlings of great promise may send them 
here and have them carefully tested and secure a 
full report of their behavior. 
They may rest assured that no plants will be 
propagated from them except to improve them by 
our system of selection and restriction. 
None will be allowed to leave the ground with- 
out their consent. It requires at least twenty-five 
plants for a fair trial. We shall test many hundred 
seedlings originated through our thoroughbred 
plants and hope soon to offer some of great excel- 
lence, but they must be thoroughly tested under 
manv conditions before they can be offered to the 
public. 
NUMBER OF PLANTS REQUIRED 
TO SET ONE ACRE. 
STRAWBERRIES. 
GRAPES. 
18x30 
inches 1 1,616 
7x 7 feet . 
888 
30x30 
" 6,968 
7X 8 " ... 
— 777 
18x34 
" 10,250 
7x 9 " 
691 
34x34 
" 5,426 
7x10 " . 
662 
15x48 
" 8,712 
8x 8 " . 
680 
20 V ^6 
" 8,712 
8x 9 " 
---6"5 
I8.X36 
" 9.6S0 
8x10 " 
---.544 
36x36 
" --- 4.825 
8x11 " 
— 495 
18x42 
" --- 8,297 
8x12 " . 
— 453 
18x48 
" 7,260 
24x48 
" --- 5.445 
RASPBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, ETC. 
3x5 feet 2.904 3x7 feet 2,074 
3x6 " 2,420 3x8 " 1,815 
BASKETS AND BERRY BOXES. 
For many years past we have bought all our 
fruit packages of the Wells, Higman Co., of St. Joseph, 
Mich., and knowing them to be among the most 
extensive and reliable manufacturers in their line, I 
take pleasure in recommending them to any one 
who may be in need of any berry boxes or other ship- 
ping packages. Their goods are strictlv first-class, 
and fruit growers who are not acquainted with this 
firm should correspond with them. They will mail 
their illustrated catalogue free on application. 
VARIETIES OF STRAWBERRIES. 
The great diversity of soils and degrees of fertil- 
ity as well as peculiar methods ol cultivation 
adopted by different growers makes it extremely 
difiScult to recommend particular varieties. 
19 
