STRAWBERRY GROWING 
9 
plowing, in addition to the vegetable matter furnished by the old straw¬ 
berry plants. 
High priced land is usually planted the next year to some garden 
or truck crop such as tomatoes, cantaloupes, sweet corn, or potatoes. 
Raspberries are sometimes set on the land the second year to remain as 
long as they are productive. 
Strawberries are often planted again after the third year of grow¬ 
ing truck crops. Altho good strawberry land is by most growers con¬ 
sidered too valuable for seeding to alfalfa or clover still some of the 
most-successful ones believe it a very desirable thing to do. Where a 
good stand of red clover can be obtained it is particularly well adapted 
for this purpose as it is more easily subdued than alfalfa. In case the 
latter is plowed under it is usually necessary to remove the larger roots 
from the soil during the process of harrowing. 
GROWING A SECOND CROP IN ONE SEASON 
During the last few years, a number of strawberry growers have 
succeeded in harvesting a second crop late in the Autumn usually during 
October. Strawberries at this season bring unusually high prices, some 
grown near Denver having been sold for $7.50 a crate. 
One of the growers in this region follows the plan of mowing the 
foliage and allowing the patch to dry out as soon as the first crop is 
off. The old plants in the center of the rows are then plowed out after 
which the plat is di; k harrowed in both directions. This is followed by 
a thorough soaking of the ground which starts the remaining plants into 
vigorous growth. 
In this way the growth is first checked and then renewed with the 
result that the plants may blossom and fruit a second time frequently 
ripening the berries after the first fall of snow. 
VARIETIES 
Many of the numerous known varieties of the strawberry have 
been tried in different parts of Colorado. Only a few of these, however, 
have been found adapted to our conditions and it is often the case that 
one or two varieties are grown almost exclusively in a certain region. 
The ideal commercial berry for Colorado is yet to be found and a few 
growers are continually trying new varieties with the hope of finding 
one that shall be an improvement over those now grown. The qualities 
which recommend a variety for home use are not necessarily the same 
as those which make a desirable commercial variety. A good com¬ 
mercial variety should be hardy, very productive, of good color and 
firm enough to bear shinning well. It should possess good size and 
form and should not ouickly run small after the first two or three pick¬ 
ings. A variety in wlvch the fruit-bearing stems are strong and erect 
is found to possess a distinct advantage over one in which the berries 
are borne close to the ground where they are apt to suffer from sun- 
scald following irrigation. 
The mere fact that a variety does well on one farm is no guarantee 
that it will do equally well in all portions of that region nor even 
