Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-12-07
agricultural.
Cultivation of the Strawberry.

Cultivation of the Strawberry.
Having had some experience in the
cultivation of that delicious fruit, Che
strawberry and an extensive opPortun'-
ty of becoming acquainted with the man
ner of its cultivation by others, 1t may
not prove wholly idle fer me TO offer a
few thoughts TO the readers OF your ex-
cellent paper.
The subject can only be glanced at in
the short time which | have TO bestow
on it. 1t shall not be my aim to enter
into the theory only, as some writers
have, by drawing from the fount oil Their
own Imagination on those spcculations
which are calculated only TO mystily the
subject and mislead those who are hon
estiy and carefully seeking the most
profitable and efficient mode of culllva-
lion. But ! shall endeavor TO present
such facts as are practical and tenable
by common sense. No man can cult
yate any good fruit without labor. That
individual who expects to produce a
bountiful crop simply upon the ground
that he has choice variety, must fail IN
his expectations.
have one fourteenth part of an acre
Of my Mammoth Alpine Strawberries !
at one time from seven and one hall
square rods were picked three bushels,
henping measure, q pick no hulls in
this valety,) from % plants were picked
three quarts, hedping measure, and from
l6 plants set one year ago, about the
first OF December, (veiy late for expert
mcn) were picked this season two
quarts, heaped. | had ripe fruit in a.
bundance about eight weeks scattering
fruit early and late, much longer. Ma
ny of my plants are over three years old
and much more care taken TO produce
pnis than fruit. My young plants hear
the first year, yet their fruit Is not estl-
mated in the above calculation. may
differ from many persons whose exPerl-
ence in the same score OF years exceeds
my own. have travelled thousands of
miles and compared plans with many in
iclIigent persons, but have found none
yet that could adopt in preference to
my own. Neither have | seen bed OF
strawberries that would compare in amy
good degree with those Of my own cu-
tiyation have found some who cult
vate on a similar plan with but llrlle va
ration.
My plan is first TO obtain the choices,
varieties possible the richest and most
productive soil may safely be selected
The soil eau hardly be made too rich ;
even to reduce in with well roued Man-
ure to equal proportions is an extreme
rather to be chosen than the opposite
no manure. After the manure is spread
evenly, the soil should be spaded fine
aud carefully nike with it; every Far.
ticlc of the soil should be stirred plant:
should be set low in the soil, leaving ;
hollow round them, otherwise the
growth of the plant, and the setting o
the bud will soon expose them to the
parching draught, and their lrulting b,
ve.y much hiudercd. The weeds shoult
be kept out clean, and in order to do i
easiy,the plants should be SET in beds o
from three 10 four rows each, from
twelve to eighteen inches each way
leaving a space Of about thirty inche
between the beds for the convenience O
picking frlit and cutivating the ho
can then be piled between the plants
A top-drcssing of manure will be loun'
10 be profitable when the soil become
weak.
Beds should be reset once in abou
three years, when the same rule shoul'
be observed as in the first setting tn
runners should be kept off, especial
the first year, to give the plants chanc
10 grow large. When the plants ar
wanted for setting, there should be onl
one formed upon each runner from til
old plant; that is, let no runners gro'
and root from the young plants. Whe
plants are set late in The fall, in portion
of the country where the soil heaves,
light covering of straw or coarse manur
should be thrown over them.--.NaS,
Ptoughmaa.