GROWING STRAWBERRIES 
SOIL AND CLIMATE 
Strawberries do well on soils varying’ between the light sand of 
Florida and the heavy clay of southern Indiana. The climatic range in 
our country is between the Gulf States and the Dakotas. Most of us, 
however, like to think of the strawberry belt between Tennessee and 
Arkansas on the south, Wisconsin and Michigan at the North as the 
surest section for a crop. Also we rather prefer a sandy loam that will 
retain fertility and still be easily worked. 
Whatever the kind of soil, it must be high in fer- 
tility and humus content. This condition is difficult to 
reach in one year, but should be attained in the years 
before being used for berries by the use of barnyard 
manure, legumes, green manure crops, and the other 
methods of good handling familiar to most farmers. 
Top dressing is an excellent practice. 
Fall plowing is good for berries. Certainly the soil must be well 
worked down to eliminate all clods, and to make the plant bed firm but 
friable. It is best not to have had the ground in heavy sod the previous 
year on account of cut worms and white grubs. These pests may do a 
great deal of damage in early season by eating off the plants at ground 
level. 
Extensive experiments have shown that berries do best on a soil 
that is slightly acid, therefore in most cases the application of lime is 
not necessary or advisable. 
