Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-07-04
4qtiepitptal.
Amor treatment of tho strawberry.


A correspondent who followed our direc
tions for making strawberry bed, asks fol
further instructions upon its cultivation
What is to be done with the runners, ETC.
That is a matter of good deal of impor-
tsnce to the amatuer, and to the market
gardener. The process must be little diff
ferent according to the objects in view
If the object is to get the largest amount Of
fruit and of the highest quality, we should
not suffer a runner to make a new plant dur
ing the season. Go over the ground as Of
ten as once in three weeks and clip every
runner. The plants set this spring will bear
very little fruit, and the whole management
should be in reference to the next years
crop. The clipping of the runners will con-
centrate the energies Of the plant upon
making roots, and forming flower buds for
the next year. If allowed to run, multi
tude of young plants will be formed, and
all the strength Of the parent plant will be
drawn off to these. We noticed in bed of
MeAvoy's Superior, which We left for form
ing new plants, that many of the old plants
were entirely exhausted by the effort and
did not survive the winter. Many pursue
this course with their bearing beds, think
ing it less trouble to cut up the young
plants, and form new rows in the spring,
than to keep them carefully clipped. But
this is slovenly method, and does not give
so good results. Removing the runners
has two advantages. 1t gives opportunity
for constant cultivation during the summer,
and makes strong plants with full large
heads. A plant thus treated sends out its
roots in all directions, and will take COM
plete possession of a cube of earth two feet
on each side of it, if it finds it unoccupied
with other plants. In the second spring,
there will be compact head of leaves and
flower stalks and the fruit will be large, and
of the best quality the variety is capable of
producing. The amatuer will find much
more satisfaction in cultivating them by this
method than by the moro common and more
careless one of leaving the runners to take
possession of the grond, and to struggle
with the weeds.
During the second season when the plants
are expected to bear, they should be water
ed abundantly, with liquid manure. This
is particularly important after the berries
have set, and before they reach their matu-
rity- After they begin to ripen they should
be watered less frequently.
If the quantity of fruit is more of an OBJ
ject with the grower than size, and quality,
We would think it a good plan to allow
one plant to grow between those already
set bringing them nine inches apart in the
rows, and Just doubling the number of plants
upon given area This is particularly de-
sirable with the Hovey's Seeding, which |
requires less room than some of the other
varieties. The fruit of course will not be so
large, but there will be more of it. Wheth-
er the cultivator will gain anything by the
larger quantity, VIII depend very much on
his market. In the large cities, size and
quality, VIII demand a much higher price
than an ordinary article. But in many
markets a strawberry Is a strawberry, anda
quart of acid Iowas will bring as much as a
quart of highest favored Pines.
Our directions then forthe after treatment
Of the strawberry is, to keep the runners
close cut, cultivate thoroughly,and apply liq-
uid manure in the bearing season.-Am.