August 13 
6o4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
THE RENEWAL OF OLD STRAW¬ 
BERRY BEDS. 
A Single Crop. —While renewal is pos¬ 
sibly a good thing under some circum¬ 
stances, it is, nevertheless, my opinion that 
if the first crop of strawberries is a large 
one the second or next succeeding crop is 
practically certain to be small. It is my 
further opinion that where land prices are 
high and the soil well supplied with plant 
food it is more profitable to plow under 
a strawberry patch and grow some Fall 
vegetables, as sweet corn or cabbage. I 
have carefully tested the renewal idea at 
various times ior many years past, and 
never, except in one instance, have I suc¬ 
ceeded in harvesting a large crop of ber¬ 
ries. There were good reasons, however, 
for this apparent exception, as the follow¬ 
ing facts will show: The first crop from 
this patch was very light, owing to un¬ 
favorable weather conditions during the 
latter part of the previous year. The early 
part of the season from the time the plants 
were put in the ground to midsummer 
was very favorable, so that the plants 
made an unusually large growth. The late 
Summer and Fall were hot and dry, so 
that bud development was much restricted, 
and very few fruit buds resulted. Hence, 
the fruit harvested the first year was very 
light, scarcely checking the growth of 
plants, which was practically continuous 
through the second year. The patch was 
thoroughly worked immediately after the 
fruiting season and few new plants were 
permitted to grow, as plants were care¬ 
fully layered the first year, and having 
borne but little fruit were in fine condi¬ 
tion. The resulting crop was phenomenal, 
perhaps the largest I have ever grown, and 
the berries were almost entirely fancy. 
Previous and subsequent results, however, 
have been disappointing, and I would not 
recommend the renewal of strawberry 
beds as a rule. 
Exhausted Plants. —The cause of 
tiiese disappointing results is easily under¬ 
stood, if one will examine a plant imme¬ 
diately after it has borne a crop. The 
plant is a mere skeleton. It has been ab¬ 
sorbed, root and stem, in the ripening of 
the fruit. The plant is in a state of com¬ 
plete exhaustion, from which, after a pe¬ 
riod of suspended activity, it makes a slow 
and imperfect recovery. It makes a new 
root system and throws out runners from 
which new plants may be established. In 
the light of these facts let us see what 
may be expected of a patch of thousands 
of plants, each of which has borne a large 
yield of berries. The condition of these 
plants is precisely like that of the plant 
described above. The fruit will have been 
gathered by July 1 (the average date), and 
the plants will not have recovered from 
their fruiting effort and be in fair grow¬ 
ing condition before August 1. That is to 
say, the making of the second strawberry 
crop can hardly be considered fairly under 
way before August 1. Growth of plant, 
the propagation of new plants and the de¬ 
velopment of fruit buds and the work ot 
an entire crowing season is crowded into 
the late Summer and Fall months. Under 
favorable conditions moderate results are 
possible. But, if as often happens, the 
seasonal conditions are unfavorable, that 
is, if the weather should be hot or dry, or 
both, or cold weather should set in early, 
the second is likely to be very light. 
Treatment of the Bed. —Immediately 
after the fruiting season we run over the 
ground with the mower. The coarse ma¬ 
terials are raked up and drawn off the 
field. The soil is then worked by a special 
pattern of Cutaway tool. This consists of 
a working gang of three 20-inch Cutaway 
disks and a guide gang of three 16-inch 
flat disks. There is a space of about 10 
inches between the gangs. This tool is 
drawn by two horses in such a way that 
the space between gangs is directly over 
the row. This tool pulverizes the soil 
thoroughly to the depth of five inches. It 
does not invert the soil, but cuts it up fine. 
The work of the tool is repeated several 
times, varying with the hardness of the 
soil. When well done it is slightly ridged 
and the surface soil thoroughly fined. This 
tool is followed closely by a float, and gar¬ 
den tillage runs through the growing sea¬ 
son. Men with hoes follow the Cutaway, 
thoroughly working down the soil in the 
row and hoeing the plants. Hoeing is con¬ 
tinued through the season as needed. With 
respect to fruiting one of two methods is 
followed: Runner plants are established 
as soon as possible, after which all run¬ 
ners are removed, or fruit-bud growth is 
forced about the axis of the old plant by 
the removal of all runners and thorough 
tillage. Each method has its strong and 
weak points. But neither, as I have al¬ 
ready said, has given satisfactory returns 
as compared with the one-crop practice. 
In this, as in many other lines of operative 
horticulture, circumstances alter cases. For 
instance, there are some varieties of straw¬ 
berries that form fruit buds very slowly, 
and, therefore, are likely to bear a light 
crop the first year. Tire Gandy is an ex¬ 
ample of this sort. Then the fruit-grower 
or farmer may be very busy in the Spring 
and may not easily find the time for mak¬ 
ing annual Spring plantings. There may 
be more leisure in midsummer for re¬ 
newal. But notwithstanding these and 
other reasons that might be offered in be¬ 
half of strawberry bed renewal, the prac¬ 
tice can hardly be classed as an instance 
of intensive horticulture. 
Indiana. j. d. nysewandek. 
BRIEF FERTILIZER TALKS. 
Nitrate of Soda for Garden Crops. 
Reader (No Address .)—Would you give in 
The It. N.-Y. a brief, concise exposition of 
the proper use of nitrate of soda solution on 
different garden plants, degree of strength, 
time and frequency of application? 
Ans. —There is little to say in favor of 
using the solution. For plants in pots half 
an ounce of the nitrate is dissolved in a 
gallon of water, and the liquid is used 
every four days. For garden crops we 
would use an ounce to the gallon, and pour 
the liquid along the rows once a week. 
We do not believe in using the liquid. It 
is not necessary. The nitrate as it comes 
from the bag may be scattered along the 
rows about four inches away from the 
plants. It will become available very rap¬ 
idly. We have put it on top of the soil in 
a perfectly dry season without working it 
in, and had it disappear from view in less 
than a week. When hoed or cultivated 
into ordinary soil it becomes available 
within a few hours, and there is no good 
reason why it should be dissolved in water 
and poured around garden plants. 
Various Fertilizer Questions. 
E. S. II., Jeffersonville, Ind .—Can I make 
a liquid fertilizer for a few flowers by the use 
of chemicals? If so, please give me a for¬ 
mula for a gallon of the liquid. What is 
basic slag? Where is it obtained? Give me 
directions for preparing a small quantity of 
superphosphate from raw bones. 
Ans. —You can use half an ounce of ni¬ 
trate of soda and one ounce of phosphate of 
potash in a gallon of water. In place of 
the phosphate of potash you can use half 
an ounce of sulphate of potash and one 
ounce of acid phosphate. Basic slag is a 
by-product in the preparation of iron ore. 
Many ores contain phosphoric acid, which 
must be removed or the iron w'ould be too 
brittle. The ore is melted and then a 
quantity of lime is thrown into the liquid 
metal. This lim<» unites with the phos¬ 
phoric acid, so that the pure iron may be 
run off by itself. The lime, phosphoric 
acid and some iron and other matters cool 
into a hard scale or slag which is ground 
to a fine powder and sold as “odorless 
phosphate” or basic slag. It usually con¬ 
tains about 50 per cent of lime and over 20 
per cent of phosphoric acid. We find it 
very useful, especially for damp, sour soils 
or for fruit. We do not advise farmers to 
attempt to make superphosphate. The 
manufacturers crush the bones and mix 
them in tanks lined with lead with sul¬ 
phuric acid. We would not attempt to 
handle this dangerous acid to “reduce” a 
few bones. We would bury them whole 
around trees or pack them with wood 
ashes as we have often described. 
“Now, madam,” said the bric-a-brac 
dealer, “here is an elegant bronze vase in 
genuine repousse work. The nautical scene 
of this side represents ‘Jonah and the 
Whale.’” “I only see the whale; where’s 
Jonah?” “You note that distension near 
the tail?” “Yes.” “Well, that’s Tonah.”— 
Pick-Me-Up. _ 
For the land’s sake, use Bowker’s Fer¬ 
tilizers. They enrich the earth.— Adv. 
NEW PAID 
ENGLAND LA1K 
WORCESTER, MASS., 
September 5, 6, and 7. 
AGRICULTURAL DISPLAY 
■Will exceed any fair in New KngJand. 
LIVE STOCK EXHIBIT. 
Poultry and Pet Stock, Horse Show. 
Agricultural Machinery. Merchants’ Exhibits. 
The Best In Horticulture and Floriculture. 
IN FACT 
COMPLETE IN EVERY DETAIL. 
THE best of the old 
AND MANY NEW FEATURES. 
KXCUKSION HATES ON ALL KA1LKOADS. 
For premium lists or other information send to 
J, E. GIFFORD, Secretary, Room 17 
Walker Building, Worcester, Mass. 
inni r DADDCIC —Buy new and save money 
All LL DMnnLLOi Robt. Gillies, Medina, N. Y. 
CHOICE CELERY , CABBAGE 
PLANTS, only SI per 1,000. All good forts ready 
in July. SLAYMAKER & SON, Dover, Del. 
SEED WHEAT. 
Fultzo-Mediterranean. Harvest King. Reliable, and 
others. Moderate prices. Clean sound, graded. 
Order from us, and if not as represented reship and 
GET YOLK MONEY BACK. Send stamp for 
samples and booklet. A. H. Hoffman. Bamfoid. Pa. 
C RIMSON CLOVER SEED, new crop, home 
grown. R. S JOHNSTON, Box4, Stockley, Del 
When you write advertisers mention The 
It. N.-Y. and you will get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee, page 8. 
FARMERS 
HANDY 
iWACON 
Low steel wheels, wide tires, make 
loading and handling easier. We fur¬ 
nish Steel Wheels to fit any axle, to 
carry any load. Straight or staggered 
spokes. Catalogue free. 
EMPIRE MFG.C0., Box 70-P, Quincy, III. 
GRAIN drill 
The YORK FORCE FEEI> DRILL com 
bines lightness with strength. Most complete drill 
made. N o complex gearing to get out of order. Boxes 
are close to ground. Fully 
Easily Guaranteed 
regulates 
quantity 
of seed 
or fer¬ 
tilizer, 
and 
sows 
with 
regu¬ 
larity. 
Weight, 
Only 700 
Agents Wanted. 
Write for Catalogue. 
THE HENCH& DR0MG0LD CO.,' 
M frs., Y ork, I’a. 
“THE OHIO” 
GAS AND GASOLINE ENGINES 
Manufac- num RinTflD pn Sanpusky, 
TUKEI) BY UnlU mUIUn VUl) OHIO. 
Write for prices and catalogue. 
CRD Q A I C— Crimson Clover Seed, $4 per bushel. 
rUfl OnLL Cow Peas. $175 and $2 per bushel; Seed 
Sweet Potatoes, $1 per bushel. 
J. E. HOLLAND, Milford, Del. 
PECAN TREES AND NUTS seedling trees,(1.2 & 3 
years old.1 TheG. M. Bacon Pecan Co. (Inc.) Dewitt,Ga 
CHOICEST FRUIT 
and Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Roses, 
Plants and Bulbs. Oatalogue No. 1 free to 
purchasers of Fruit and Ornamental Trees. 
No. 3 free to buyers of Holland Bulbs and 
Greenhouse Plants. Try us; satisfaction 
guaranteed. Correspondence solicited. 61st 
groenhouses. 1000 acres. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO. 
PAINESVILLE, OHIO. 
GASOLINE ENGINES 
Three Horse Power, IS 100 
Five Horse Power, 1S150 
Saws wood; cuts feed. Does all 
kinds of farm work Runs spray 
pump Catalogue free. 
PALMER BROS., 
Cos Cob, Conn. 
CIDER 
PRESSES. 
Investigate the • * Monarch” 
Hydraulic Press before 
buying. Special Con¬ 
struction, Added Con¬ 
veniences, Maximum 
Capacity and Results. 
Catalogue free. 
MONARCH MACHINERY COMPANY, 
41 Cortlandt Street. New York. 
E lberta* Preach 
The perfect freestone. Vs?y I 
l%rge and fine. Golden yellow, feint \ 
ly striped with red. Fruit deliciously 
flavored. Early August. Tree hand* t 
some and most prolific. Fine market J 
variety .All choice kinds.Catalog free, j 
Harrison’s Nurseries,Bx29 t flerlln,Mq j 
_ FRUIT BOOK 
- shows In NATURAL COLORS and 
accurately describes 216 varieties of 
’ fruit. Send for our liberal terms of distn- 
DDCCIrtCHIT~ The most P roflt - 
■ IX EL O I I J EL in I able Strawberry. 
' Potted plants now ready. Send for prices. 
THuMAS R. HUNT, Originator, Lambertville, N. J. 
POTTED STRAWBERRY PLANTS, till 
T C KFV1TT. Atheuia, N. J. 
RCHARD PROFIT 
0 depends upon working all the 
fruit into a salable 
eider for i nstance. If 
pure it sells readily at a profit. 
The best is produced by a 
HYDRAULIC 
CIDER 
PRESS 
Made in varying sizes, hand 
power. Catalogue free. 
HYDRAULIC PRESS MFC. 
38 Cortlandt St., Now York. 
MACHINERY 
0 1DE 
Best and cheapest. 
Send for catalogue. 
I00MER & BOSCHERT 
. PRESS CO., 
118 IVestWaterSl., 
8XBACCSE, K, 1. 
LARGE LUSCIOUS STRAWBERRIES IN 1905. 
From our STRONG POT GROWN PLANTS offered in our Summer Catalogue. A full crop of fruit 
ten months after plants are set out. Plant now, we have the best varieties for market and home 
use. We have in five-inch pots, now ready for planting and late bloom, all the best hardy Roses, 
Honeysuckle and Clematis; also Boston and English Ivy. A full line of selected FRUITS and 
ORNAMENTALS for Autumn planting. Stock first class. Prices reasonable. 
I A EinCO A DC PADnCWIWfi and the beautifying and enriching of the Home ground our leading 
LAN UoUAlL UAllULllINU specialty. $ We will be pleased to call ar d see you on this matter, or 
call at our Nurseries and see our stoek. Our Catalogue mailed free. Write for it to-day. 
T. J- DWYER dfc OO , COHTNTW3XT. Y. 
CRIMSON CLOVER 
on request. 
The great soil improver. ValuaDie 
ako for early green food, grazing 
and hay crop. Special circular 
free, also sample and price of seed 
HENRY A. DREER, 714 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
CUTAWAY TOOLS FOR LARGE HAY CROPS. 
Clark’s Reversible Bush and Bog Plow, cuts a track 4 ft. wide, 1 ft. deep. Will plow a 
new cut forest. His Double-Action Cutaway Harrow keeps the 
land true, moves 18,000 tons of earth, cuts 30 acres per day. His ( 
Rev. Disk Plow cuts a furrow 5 to lliin. deep. 14 in wide. 
All these machines will kill witch- 
grass,wild mustard, charlock,hard- 
hack. sunflower, milkweed, thistle, 
or any foulplant. Send for cir’lars.i 
CUTAWAY HARROW CO. 
Higganum, Conn., U. 8. A. 
