460 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 June, 1898. | 
The Orchard. 
STRAW BERRY-GROWING ON THE NORTH COAST. 
By F. G. PIGUENIT. 
\ SOrIl. 
Tue strawberry does fairly well on various kinds of soil, such as light sandy 
loam on ridges, chocolate loam on the scrub land flats, and the heavy black soil 
overlying a subsoil of clay on the ridges and mountain tops. 
On the low-lying lands some varieties of strawberries suffer very much 
from a leaf fungus, especially if the season is damp, as this dreaded fungus 
usually attacks the plant in the early spring, when the plant is weakened by 
bearing a crop of fruit. 
When the plants are badly attacked the crop of fruit is considerably 
diminished; but on the tops of the ridges and mountains, where the atmosphere 
is not so humid, little or no leaf fungus appears, and in consequence a much 
more reliable and heavy crop of berries are gathered. 
PREPARING THE SOIL. : 
The soil should be thoroughly broken up to a depth of 15 inches (18 
inches not being too deep). ‘The strawberry is a deep rooter, sending its roots 
down quite a foot and further; it also needs a great deal of moisture—the 
deeper the land is worked up, the better position it will be in to retain the 
moisture. 
The land should be broken up some little time before the planting season. 
Where a plough is used, the best and cheapest way to break up is to double 
plough—z.e., going twice in the same furrow. 
Where this heavy work is done by hand it is always costly and laborious. 
After breaking up, let the land lie some weeks, for it to sweeten and fine 
down, also for any weed seeds near the surface to germinate. As the planting 
season approaches, plough or work the land (as the case may be) to the depth 
of 6 or 8 inches; harrow and roli down fine; be sure that there are not any 
clods, as a fine seed bed ensures success with the young plants taking root, 
When the crop is cultivated entirely by hand, if the season is dry, it is a good 
plan to mulch the ground before planting, and plant out in the mulch. 
With the picking season the grower’s very busy time commences. The 
birds alone require a great deal of watching, more especially if the surrounding 
timber is close. They are always more troublesome in the early season, when 
the grower can ill afford to lose any of his berries. ‘The ‘‘ Chalwong”’ (a pied 
shrike) will actually wait in the surrounding timber and watch the berries 
ripen, and, if not looked after very closely, will have the berry in spite of the 
grower. : 
. WORKING. 
About a week after planting go carefully through the rows with the horse- 
hoe set shallow (so as not to disturb the young roots). This will let the 
air into the soil, besides destroying any young weeds that may have come up, 
but the ground around the plants will require working by hand. The plants 
should be worked at least once a fortnight. For the first month or two after 
planting, when the plants begin to show the blossom buds, they should be 
mulched with some clean grass or straw. ‘The mulching keeps the ground cool 
and damp around the roots of the plants, besides keeping the fruit clear of grit. 
In horse culture I find it only advisable to mulch around the plant, 
leaving the centre of the rows bare, which can be kept cultivated. The Planet 
Junior machine hoe is a splendid tool for the work. 
