Small Fruits. 
The small fruits are of the greatest importance, and whether for home use or profit- 
able marketing, cannot be overlooked by any intelligent cultivator. We take them up 
first, as of first importance. 1 
Strawberries. 
CULTURE. Our past experience has been our teacher, and after years of study we 
e come to the conclusion that good returns cannot be realized unless high culture is 
have 
put ill practice. It may seem useless to cultivate each weeFor af terarain 
we have to suit the people of the north, south, east and west; we cannot say further on 
B i’ carr y nig out the following plan you will find it successful. ' Never plow 
*■ ‘ .. , ‘ , .. ill tuc atm. J-t I o USC1CS5 IU bl \ tOgTOWIlUlb 
on poor soil unless heavily maiiured. As a fertilizer we have found stable manure the 
best, and it heads the list. This should be composted, and if you desire to use any com- 
u er ^ lllzer 1 !’ boi ?° “ e ® 1 » which stands at the top of the pile. Remember that to 
£ et . -5 h 08 ? 1 re ? ults from this it has to be used one year before it acts as a plant food so 
that it can be decomposed. Cow manure should not be used for strawberries, as it causes 
grubs which destroy many plants. A remedy for the grub is plenty of manure, and if this 
is used you may expect very little trouble; this has been very thoroughly tested this sea- 
son, and where little or no manure was used there is where the plants are destroyed. We 
believe that the best results can be obtained by spreading manure on the soil after it is 
plowed. Plow deep; have every foot turned, then the manure should be spread from one 
and a-hall to three inches deep; this should be worked in with the cultivator and harrow. 
As the roots of the strawberry do not go in the ground very deep, we think this the best 
so they shall not have to hunt for fertility, but have it at hand. You cannot have your 
sod in too good a condition ; it should be fine so that all things favorable for the plant life 
are_ at hand ; lumps contain the same amount of plant food as any other portion of the soil 
when wrapped up in this condition do the plant no good whatever. As a cultivator’ 
the Planet Jr has no equal on the fruit farm, and for the advantage of our customers we 
have placed them in their reach. See cut on a rear page. This tool can be changed to pull 
the s °u away as well as put it to them ; the horse can do as much in one day as six or eight 
men with hoes. Much has been said in regard to hill and matted rows system. I do not 
not believe in either, but a compromise between the two. Hill culture does not vield 
enough fruit, and the matted rows make the fruit too small, but the compromise gives vou 
a good sized fruit and a good, profitable crop. Mulching should be done as soon as the 
ground will hold up a sled and team, after being frozen ; we use well rotted stable ma- 
nure for our young beds. When manure is used the first year it is plowed under and acts 
as plant food the second. High culture, plenty of fertilizer with a moist soil, will produce 
good returns to the grower. 1 
PLANTING. This is one of the essential points; it requires the same attention and 
work to produce a good set as a poor one, and it is not very encouraging to see a bed with 
only about half the plants growing. Some plant too deep and others not deep enough. 
Our method of planting is with the spade and trowel; we have two men with spades and 
line, and a boy to drop the plants as they use them, so as not too expose the roots to the 
sun or wind ; two men with the help of a boy, can in good clay soil plant one acre per day. 
are Pi lt in bunches of 25 each, and when received should be untied and set in some 
shaded spot for a day or so— with plenty of water about them. They will start new root- 
lets in 48 hours after set. We have plants all ready for planting. Before they are 
shipped they are stripped of the surplus leaves and runners and labeled true to name. 
PERFECT AND IMPERFECT BLOSSOMS. All strawberries are perfect or imperfect; 
those marked ‘ 1 ? are imperfect and destitute of stamens and must be planted so that the 
perfect flower can be mixed with them: every 3rd, 5th or 7th rows will suffice, but the 
closer the better. Some people are prejudiced against pistillate varieties ; they should not 
be. We have found them the most productive, and they give the best returns. When fer- 
tilized, these are some five to ten days later, as most of the first blossoms are perfect and 
when fertilized by later varieties, extend the fruiting season. For family use 1 would 
prefer a perfect flowered variety, but for profit the one most productive. 
