4 
E. W, REID’S CATALOGUE OF SMALL FRUITS, ETC. 
Different methods of planting are a rule in different sections of the country ; hence, we 
can but give to you the one practiced by us— this is a compromise between the matted row 
and hill system. With the matted row you get much small fruit — with the hill quite large, 
but not paying qualities; so we take the compromise. 
When a bed is set in spring, we allow no runners to set until July 15th to August 1st: 
we then see that they are not huddled together, but kept separate so they will form a good 
root growth, and be prepared to produce a good crop. 
The method many practice in matted-row system is pushing the runners to the plant 
all through the fall. This is not right; you form a nest of vines without being well rooted, 
and that will produce inferior fruit. When one wants some fine specimens of fruit, he 
will not go to the largest cluster of vines, but where the set is more scattered and where 
the sun shines in around the plants. 
The rows ou this system should be feet wide, and plants 15 to 18 inches apart in 
row Tn preparing the soil, would not advise planting sod to this fruit, but if that is 
done, it should be plowed the fall before and replowed in the spring, with a light coat of 
manure plowed under, and the same worked in from top. 
The soil cannot be too well prepared; the more work put on it, the less it will require 
in the future. „ , „ _ ■ , - 
As a fertilizer, we recommend barn-yard manure above all others. Commercial lei- 
tilizers with us have never proved a profitable investment; hence, we pay more in propor- 
tion for the former than the latter. The manure has the lasting qualities, where with the 
phosphate you know not the hour its strength will be exhausted, and many times the re- 
sult will be the loss of crops. ^ . ... 
We advise working the manure into the soil from the top by plow or harrow; it is 
then placed in reach of the plant roots; when plowed under it is seldom reached, and the 
plant proper receives but little from it. , 
The soil does not need to be rich to produce the crop ; any soil that will produce good 
potatoes or wheat, with a supply of manure added, will yield you good returns. The one 
main point in view should be cultivation, and the best tool to do this work at the least ex- 
pense is the Planet Jr. (See cut on rear page.) 
PLANTING.— The planting of a bed is the most important part. It costs you the same 
to cultivate a poor stand of plants as it does a good one; hence, the importance of well- 
rooted strong plants. .. ... , ,, 
We cannot produce such with the care and high culture we give them at the cost they 
can be grown on New Jersey sand-banks and at some other points, but we can send you 
plants that are worth ten times their value, and will all grow ; not only grow, but produce 
vou a good growth instead of one of the dwarf nature ! 
The plant should not be planted deeper than it stood in the bed; when planted too 
deep it will not grow, and if planted too shallow, the same. 
We use a spade and line for setting; have our plants all dug, and when we are ready 
it is but a small job to set. Two men and a boy can set one acre per day. Care should be 
taken not to expose the roots to sun or wind. . , 
Should plants be received before you are ready to plant, or should anything interfere, 
heel in ; cut the string about the bunch and spread them out, dampening the roots but not 
the leaf. ^ arg aU stl . ip p e( j 0 f surplus leaves and runners, and put in bunches of 
twenty- five, packed in light baskets, which keep down express charges, and cause no dan- 
ger of heating. All our plants are true to name. 
PERFECT AND IMPERFECT BLOSSOMS.— Strawberries are all perfect or imperfect, 
or in other words, male and female. Those marked (P) arc imperfect and destitute of 
stamens, and must be planted so that they can be fertilized with perfect flowering varie- 
ties, every three, four or five rows. _ . .. , . 
Tho best way to make the fertilization perfect is to set two varieties between— one 
early and one late; this will add to crop and size of fruit,. 
Some people are prejudiced against pistillate varieties. This should not be. We have 
found them the most productive ; hence, better paying and less injured by late frost. For 
family use, would prefer a perfect variety, as they are somewhat easier handled, but for 
profit, the one that produces the most salable fruit. 
New Varieties. 
LOVETT’S EARLY.— We have arranged with the introducer to supply our custom- 
ers with this new berry, and will say that all our stock will be from the original plants, 
and that they will be as fresh and vigorous as if grown in our own soil. We give the 
description as from the introducer : “ In vigor of plant and productiveness, it also surpassed 
every other variety, numbering some hundreds of sorts, in our trial grounds. In 1889 it 
a^ain gave us ripe berries nearly a week in advance of every other sort except Crystal 
Citv and Monmouth (one of which is too small in fruit and the other too feeble of late in 
plant under ordinary circumstances) to be of much value; we were so forcibly impressed 
of its value by its behavior this year— yielding such an enormous crop of such fine berries 
and so early that we opened a correspondence with Mr. Morris, the originator, which re- 
