10 MC NICOL’S PLANT NURSERY, R. 1, LEWES, DEL. 
STRAWBERRIES 
AND HOW TO GROW THEM 
Almost any kind of soil if made fertile with manure, fertilizer or green crops turned under, 
will grow some variety of Strawberry. 
Avoid sod or grassy land and NEVER use lime or wood ashes on Strawberries. 
Dig or plow in spring as early as possible. Pulverize the soil with drag or hand rake. 
For field culture mark rows 3% to 4 feet apart and set the plants, with all the roots buried 
and just the crown and leaves above the surface, from 14 to 30 in. apart, according to variety. 
For garden culture plants may be set closer. Begin to hoe or cultivate the ground soon after 
planting as weeds should not be allowed to grow. 
In field culture I think it is best to let the runners grow until you have a matted row 
say a foot to 18 inches wide. For the garden where space is limited it may pay to plant 
close, say 16 inches each way, and keep all runners removed. 
Everbearing Strawberries after setting, need all flowers removed until July or August. 
A good way to grow the everbearing varieties in the home garden, or where they can 
receive the care, is in the double-row system. Set the plants, alternately, a foot apart in 
the rows. Allow 30 to 36 inches between double rows, and make each of the double rows, 
in turn, but 12 inches apart. Consistently remove all runners as formed. When the fruit is 
well set in August or September, mulch the rows with leaves, straw, marsh hay, shavings, or 
any substance that will keep the berries clean without damaging the plants. With this method 
as much as $2,000 per acre is possible. Let the boy or girl grow some this way. They will 
enjoy the work and the many extra dollars they will receive for the fine out-of-season berries. 
Some varieties of strawberries are suitable to your soil, if you do not know and your 
neighbors cannot tell you the variety suitable, experiment with a few of each kind until 
you find the right one, then stick to it until you find something better. 
Some sections need winter protection, for this strawy horse manure is best but bailed 
straw, leaves, etc., is very good. 
Big money is made each year by some one, somewhere, with strawberries, $1,000 and more 
per acre is often realized. Your chance is as good. Anyhow grow some for your own use. They 
are mighty nice and with the Everbearers you can have big luscious berries nearly all summer. 
The following is a brief description covering the essential points of each 
variety. 
PREMIER (Howard 17). Early. One of the best strawberries ever intro¬ 
duced. Known and planted everywhere for all purposes. 
BLAKEMORE. Rapidly coming ahead here as one of our best market berries. 
Fine color, wonderful shipping and keeping qualities. It’s fault is in mak¬ 
ing too many plants. Plants set early on good ground will need to be 
thinned for best results as the plants should stand 6 or 7 inches apart. 
Setting plants later in the spring would be an advantage in this respect. 
DORSET!’. A new beautifully colored market berry of wonderful quality 
and cropping ability. You do not know how delicious a strawberry can be 
until you have eaten Dorsett picked good and ripe from the vines. Like 
Blakemore it is inclined to make too many plants. 
FAIRFAX. I believe better in quality than Dorsett also larger plants and 
larger berries. It is about the same in production. For home use and di¬ 
rect to customer or local market, it is our favorite. For shipping market 
they are a little too dark in color unless picked as soon as nicely colored. 
However for canning, jam and preserves they have the richest red straw¬ 
berry color and most delicious flavor. In this respect I know of none other 
to equal the Fairfax. 
SOUTHLAND. Good large plants, well spaced, and the berries are as beau¬ 
tiful as any. The quality and color are nearly equal to Dorsett or Fairfax. 
Highly recommended as a quality berry for home or local market for the 
warm lands of the states south of the Mason and Dixon line. 
BIG JOE. The best known of the mid-season berries for market. Vigorous 
plants, large beautiful bei'ries that ship well and are of good quality. 
