COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER 
Used wisely, commercial fertilizers help materially in berry pro- 
duction. For plant growth in the new patch, fertilizers may be handled 
in two ways — (1) by heavy application, say 1000 pounds or more per 
acre broadcast and worked into the soil before transplanting, (2) by at 
jeast two side dressings of about 250 pounds per acre each. We rather 
prefer the latter method as requiring less fertilizer and giving more 
immediate benefit. Any gocd complete fertilizer, say 3-12-12 is all right. 
We also like an application of some 250 pounds per acre right in 
the rows in early September when the next year’s berries are beginning 
to form. 
Spring application of fertilizer of high nitrogen content must be 
relatively light, and should be undertaken extensively only after con- 
siderable experience. Applications that are too heavy may cause a top 
growth too heavy for fruiting. 
PLANT SPACING 
Fruiting rows in commercial fields should be spaced at about four 
feet. In small plantings this distance can well be held to three and 
one-half feet. 
The distance apart in the row depends upon the 
ability of the variety used to make runners. We set 
such kinds as Premier, Fairfax and Chesapeake about 
eighteen inches, varieties like Temple, Catskill and 
Dorsett about two feet, and such free running kinds 
as Blakemore, Robinson and Dunlap will generally 
make a good row if set as far apart as thirty inches. 
The number of plants required per acre therefore depends upon 
the variety used. From the above spacing, it will take slightly more 
‘than 7000 plants for an acre of Premier, Fairfax, Chesapeake or Masto- 
don. 5500 plants will set an acre of Catskill, Dorsett, Aroma, Big Joe or 
Gibson, while Robinson, Blakemore, Dunlap need about 4500 plants. 
We favor the matted row system for the best and cheapest pro- 
duction, but no plant will do well in size of fruit or total marketable 
fruit if the plants are too close together. By matted row we mean a 
row twelve or fourteen inches wide with the individual plants about 
iuur inches apart in the row. If the year’s growth leaves them closer, 
the smaller plants should be rigorously thinned. 
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