SOUTH MICHIGAN NURSERY, New Buffalo, Mich 
Fitting the Soil for Strawberries 
Soil for setting fruit plants should be plowed deeply and 
harrowed until it is loose and level. We like fall plowing 
as it allows the soil to settle and vegetable matter to 
decay. Spring plowing is all right, but fall plowing is 
better where possible. Begin plowing as late in the fall as 
possible before the ground freezes. This late plowing is 
beneficial because the soil lays loose and open, frost acts 
upon it more readily, and leaves it in condition to absorb 
more moisture in the spring to furnish a supply during the 
summer. The frost can then kill a great many insects 
that live over winter in the soil—white grubs in sod land, 
for example. As early in the spring as the soil will work 
up mellow, the land should be thoroughly harrowed, fol¬ 
lowed immediately with a heavy roller or plank drag. The 
soil should be firm for planting—this preserves moisture. 
You can mark out your ground with the same kind of 
marker used for other rowed crops. One marking three or 
four rows at once is a time saver. 
WHEN TO PLANT. The earlier in the spring the better 
—as soon as you can prepare the land, so the spring rains 
will give your plants a good start. Plants should be 
shipped and set before they start to grow much, while 
the plant still has all its vitality. It is to your interest to 
set your plants as early as possible. 
Many prefer to set plants in the fall, and to accom¬ 
modate them we make some shipments after October 1st 
to 10th. Plants are fully rooted then and will become well 
established before cold weather, going through the winter 
in good shape. 
CARE OF PLANTS WHEN RECEIVED. If the ground is 
not ready when the plants reach you, an easy way to keep 
their full vigor for planting is as follows: Carefully sep¬ 
arate the varieties—take each variety, a bunch at a time, 
cut the strings, and spread the plants in a thin row along 
one side of a shallow furrow. Then cover roots only. They 
will keep in good condition for 8 to 1 0 days. When trans¬ 
planting to the field be careful not to mix the varieties. 
Strawberries 
PLANTING DISTANCE. For commercial planting, plant 
rows 3 ft. 8 in. apart, the same as for corn—and putting 
the plants 14 to 18 inches apart in the row, about 8,000 
plants per acre. By training plants to a matted row, you 
get a good picking width. 
In the home fruit garden the rows may be set only 
three feet or even as close as 2 feet with plants spaced 
about the same as above. 
SETTING PLANTS. Make holes with a spade by putting 
in ground six to eight inches, and pull toward you; then 
take out. If ground is in good condition and soil is damp, 
this should leave a "V" shaped opening. Hold plants in 
this hole with hand and close hole with one foot, pressing 
firmly (with feet) on both sides of plant. If one is set¬ 
ting plants alone a row of holes may be made, then take 
plants and set that row. If two are working together one 
can make holes and the other set the plants. Great care 
should be taken to set the plants at the right depth. 
Plants should set the same depth as they were before 
being dug, with the crown of plant even with surface of 
ground. This is important, as the plants set too deep will 
be washed over with mud and those set too shallow will 
dry out. 
Dip roots in water just before setting if ground or 
plants are dry. Garden plants may be trained to the hill 
system with plants set about 12 inches apart in the row. 
All runners are cut off so that the original plant forms the 
entire hill. This system will produce fewer berries of 
larger size. 
CULTIVATION AND CARE DURING FIRST SEASON. 
Cultivation should be continuous throughout the growing 
season and early fall, keeping the soil finely broken up to prevent loss of moisture, and at 
the same time bring it up to the surface within reach of the plant roots. As plants grow, give 
shallow cultivation so as not to disturb root growth. 
BLAKEMORE (Early) 
The United States Department of Agriculture Recommends It. 
This wonderful new creation called the BLAKEMORE (U.S.D.A. No. 659), was originated from 
a cross of the Missionary and the Premier in the year 1923 by the United States Department of 
Agriculture The berries are much firmer than the Premier, Missionary or the Klondike. The 
BLAKEMORE are slightly blunted conic with broad shoulders and slim neck. The shape of the 
Blakemore might vary some in different localities. Easy picking and hulling qualities. The berries 
are a beautiful bright glossy red color, with tough skin, firm flesh, with wonderful mild flavor. 
Plants make runners freely, and you are sure of getting a good fruiting row. They should be set 
about 24 inches apart. If set closer than that they will get too thick. It has been tried out and 
found to be one week earlier than Premier. It is a wonderful market berry. Why wouldn't it be? 
Think of it—one week earlier than Premier. 
PREMIER PRICES 
25 $0.50 
50 60 
75 90 
100 . 1.10 
200 . 2.00 
250 2.40 
300 ....... 2.70 
400 3.20 
500 3.50 
1000 . 6.75 
Less Discounts 
PREMIER 
THE MOST 
POPULAR 
BERRY 
Ever 
INTRODUCED 
If you plant STRO- 
MER'S PREMIER you 
will get the first berries 
on the market. They 
will be bearing heavily 
before other varieties 
begin. Your biggest 
picking will be when 
berries are in good de¬ 
mand and are bringing top prices. 
Premier will grow anywhere. The 
plants are sturdy and long rooted, 
a good drought-resister. The ber¬ 
ries are very large, and hold their 
size to the last picking. The flavor 
cannot be beaten. 
Premier we offer you the 
greatest early Strawberry of all 
time. However, the early ripening 
of this variety is only one of its 
many good features. It is im¬ 
mensely productive, and unlike 
other early ripening Strawberries, the fruit pro¬ 
duced by Premier is of the very finest quality, 
color, texture and flavor; and last but not least, 
every berry is large in size and uniform in shape. 
For every purpose that a Strawberry is wanted. 
Premier is supreme—eating, canning, preserv¬ 
ing, distant and local market—no other variety 
can give you any more pleasure, satisfaction or 
profit. Premier succeeds everywhere and never 
fails to give a big crop of the very finest berries. 
The foliage is tough and healthy and grows tall 
and rank, covering the blossoms and berries, 
and protecting them from frost and scalding sun. 
SENATOR DUNLAP 
(MID-SEASON) 
SENATOR DUNLAP IS AN OLD STANDARD 
VARIETY. It has made more crates and more 
dollars for berry growers than any other one 
variety. Requires very little attention. It's the 
toughest variety known. Plants are healthy, 
fast growers, and make plants freely. Should 
be set 24 inches by 36 inches apart in rows. 
Berries very dark red. Wonderful canning ber¬ 
ry; great for preserves. Senator Dunlap is 
sometimes sold under the name of Dr. Burrill. 
We can see no difference between these two 
varieties, except the cost of the plants. 
SENATOR DUNLAP PRICES 
.$1.85 
. 2.10 
. 2.40 
. 2.85 
25 . . . . 
.$0.50 
250 
50 . . . . 
.65 
300 
75 . . . . 
.75 
400 
100 . . 
.90 
500 
200 .... 
1.60 
1000 
Less discounts. 
BLAKEMORE 
PRICES 
25 
.$0.50 
50 
.65 
75 
.75 
100 
.90 
200 
. 1.60 
250 
. 1.85 
300 
. 2.10 
400 
. 2.40 
500 
. 2.85 
1000 
. 5.50 
Less discounts 
Blakemore. Notice how the hull stands away from the berry. 
[ 6 ] 
