120 
July, 1891. 
/ ORCHARD 
V^NN ^ -vy* . ^ 
)..D fl GARDEN 
July Pointers. 
Where there has been neglect in setting 
out a new strawberry bed the past spring it 
may be remedied by planting tliis month or 
even later, but the sooner it is now done the 
better will he the yield of fruit next year. 
It can only be done early, however, by 
those who have a strawberry bed already 
on their grounds from which to obtain 
plants, or who can obtain them from an ac- 
commodating neighbor, for nurserymen 
and professional growers decline to send 
out layer strawberry plants thus early in 
the season. 
The reason for this is that during July, 
August and September the plants are run- 
ning and making their increase, and a hun- 
dred plants taken up at this time will de- 
stroy many others; that is to say, if the 
hundred plants had been allowed to remain, 
they would have made many hundreds of 
other plants before the close of the season. 
Thus nurserymen dislike to dig their beds 
before fall and seldom offer layer plants 
before September, and then only at hundred 
rates and at a higher price than in fall or 
spring. Strawberry plants at thousand 
rates and in quantity are seldom sold until 
October. For summer and early fall plant- 
ing most nurserymen provide pot-grown 
plants which, although rather more costly, 
have their advantages. 
Endeavor to plant the new bed on a 
cloudy day or when the soil is moist. Take 
up the plants with soil adhering to the 
roots, which may be readily done on a wet 
day, using a trowel for the work. Pinch 
off from the young plant all runners that 
may start from it, and after the plants have 
started to grow in their new bed hoe lightly 
around them and keep the soil mellow and 
free from weeds. 
It rarely pays to clean out a very weedy 
bed unless it is a young one. A quick and 
simple method of renewing it is to manure 
and turn under the strips between the old 
rows and then guide the new runners into 
the fresh soil. When the latter is filled 
with plants well rooted, dig the old rows 
under and the result is virtually a new bed. 
* * * 
Potted plants are excellent for summer 
planting enabling one to plant in hot, dry 
weather without loss if properly handled. 
There is not the check to them consequent 
upon transplanting as is the case with ordi- 
nary laser plants, and pot grown plants 
may be set all through July and August 
with a reasonable hope of a good crop of 
berries the following year. The plants 
should be set out before becoming pot- 
bound. When shipped by the nurserymen 
the balls are taken from the pots, wrapped 
in paper and packed closely together. In 
planting soak the balls for a few minutes 
and if at all potbound crush them slightly 
in the hand. 
* * * 
For shippingred raspberries there is noth- 
ing better than the little round half pint 
baskets in a sixty half pint crate. They are 
vastly superior to the old fashioned thirds. 
For blackcaps either round or square pints 
are best though many ship in quarts. Black- 
berries are also usually shipped in square 
quarts. In harvesting raspberries the ber- 
ries must be kept picked closely, going over 
the plantation daily. Blackberries for fam- 
ily use should not be picked until about 
ready to drop. When picked before being 
dead ripe the hard core and acidity com- 
mon to most varieties is a dreaded barrier 
to their enjoyment. 
* * * 
Keep down suckers in the raspberry and 
blackberry plantations, leaving only about 
four or five new canes in the hill for bear- 
ing next year. Treat all others as weeds 
and cut them down remorselessly with the 
Lovett’s Eari.y. Fig. 457. 
hoe. Pinch back these new canes when 
they reach a height of about four feet 
which will induce them to become stocky 
and to throw out laterals. Vacant hills 
may be filled up by transplanting suckers 
taken up on a wet day with a spadeful of 
soil about the roots, and even new beds 
may be set out in this manner where there 
are plenty of young sucker plants to be had. 
* * * 
The old strawberry bed, if too foul to be 
kept over, should be mowed and burnt over 
before turning under, to destroy insect 
pests. Plough deeply and sow to turnips or 
plant with late cabbage. Select a fresh 
spot for the new bed. 
Strawberry Plants in Pots. 
Most writers recommend plunging the 
pots in the soil along the rows and layering 
the runners in them. This is altogether a 
useless and laborious process. We wait 
until the runners have put out a few white 
roots in the soil, which can be easily lifted 
entire. We then take them up and take them 
to the potting shed, and pot them in com- 
fort. After being potted the plants are pack- 
ed close together on a bed of coal ashes, in a 
frame, and a lath screen placed over them. 
Plants treated in this way will soon surpass 
those that have been baking in the hot sun 
in the open patch. Every one who has 
tried the heavy labor of layering in the 
open field will appreciate this method. — W. 
F. Massey, Raleigh, N. C. 
Among the New Strawberries— 1 89 1 . 
The season now drawing to a close has 
not been a favorable one for strawberries 
at Monmouth. The early bloom was badly 
damaged by late frosts and there being no 
fall of rain from the time the blossoms op- 
ened until the fruit was nearly ripe, the 
plants received a severe check. It has 
therefore been a trying season hence a very j 
excellent one for trying new varieties, 
their defects having been brought out prom- 
inently and distinctly. For brevity’s sake I 
will omit notes upon all except those that 
have been or are about to be, extensively ad- 
vertised. 
Yale (Fig. 456), although a berry of good 
size and excellent quality, has proved a 
failure. The plant rusts and burns badly, 
hence the yield is poor both in quantity and 
quality. On cool, heavy soil — soil upon 
which the Jucunda succeeds — I am satisfied 
it would prove a fine sort. The fruit equals 
in firmness its high, rich flavor. 
Beebe (Fig. 453) is supposed to be a seed- 
ling of Miner's Prolific, produced by Mr. E. 
P. Beebe, of Union County. N. J. ; and is 
soon to make its debut. The plant is a 
heavier and stronger grower than the Min- 
er and resembles it only in the form of the 
leaf and its freedom from disease, being 
invariably clean, bright and beautiful. Its 
berries are unlike the Miner in color, being 
bright scarlet-crimson, are uniformly very j 
large, produced in greater profusion even 
than its supposed parent, and possesses the 
same mild, rich, pleasant flavor. Its de- 
fect, if it may be termed one, lies in its ex- 
cessive yield. 
Crawford has behaved surprisingly well. 
Owing to the prolonged drought the plants 
made but a short growth and gave but a 
light yield, yet the berries were large and 
excellent. This, like the Yale, evidently re- 
quires a rich, heavy, cool soil for success. 
Lovett’s Early (Fig. 457) gave us ripe 
berries on May 22nd, the earliest date we 
have ever gathered ripe strawberries, and 
as a general purpose, allround variety it 
approaches more closely perfection than 
any other thus far produced. Beginning 
to ripen early, as it does, it continues to 
near the close of the season, and owing to 
its wonderful vigor of plant it maintains a 
good size and good form to the end. It does 
not give so great a yield at any single pick- y 
ing as some varieties that go quickly, but 
during the whole season, from first to last, 
we have yet to see a strawberry produce so 
much fruit upon a given space and under 
neglect. The berries are not of the colos- 
sal size of the Sharpless, although seldom 
