GROWING STRAWBERRIES 
SOIL AND CLIMATE 
We do not need to be too careful in selecting the kind of soil for 
strawberries, for they thrive on anything from the light sand of Florida 
to the heavy clay of southern Indiana. The climatic range is between the 
Gulf states and the Dakotas. However, we generally think of the straw- 
berry belt as extending from Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee to Wis- 
consin and Michigan. Also we rather prefer a sandy loam that will retain 
fertility and still be easily worked. 
Whatever the type of soil, it must be high in fertility 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, fertilizers, 
green manure crops, and other practices familiar to good 
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. 
