Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-05-12
MISCELLAyEOU READING
STRAWBERRY CULTURE.

RI Pardee says:-"The necessarily very
brief notes Of the sayings Of the Farmers
Club hardly convey sufficient answer to the
very proper inquiry, how strawberries can lie
cultivated for fifty cents bushel? have
said this does not include the cost of gather
ing and selling, and in Western New York,
where experiments have been largely tried,
rood land can be bought for $50 per acre,
the interest of which is 50 SO. | pever pur-
chased but raised my own plants. l once
stimulated single plant ofBsrr's New Pine
so as to produce me l, 400 good plants tor set
ting out in less than sixteen months. 30, OF
course, no economical market raiser will ex-
mend large sums Of money for plants, but
raise them from few pure plants. Again,
| would select good land in suitable condl'
ton. and rich enough for corn and potatoes.
| am opposed to sll stimulating animal ma
nures for the strawberry, or land over en-
ricbed, as some portions of the gardens are,
bat bave always preferred land IN the oest
possible condition for crop. Then apply
moderate coating Of unf'ched ashes, lime
and salt, say three bushels Of ashes, one OF
lime, and four or six quarts OF salt, and, II
need be, prepared muck or leaf mould or
turf. See that the land selected is neither
too wet nor too dry, neither too sandy nor
TOO heavy, too high nor too low. Then
plouyb, gu bsoil and harrow thoroughly, and
in favorable weather set out the plants
twelve TO sixteen inches apart in rows three
feet. so as to let 8 horse cultivstor pass De.
tween them. Keep them clean in the usual
way end of course they can be cultivated 10
this manner very nYrly IS cheap as corn
and potatoes. Care must be taken to select
a suitable location, and soil in the right con-
dition, we'll prepared; then set out the plants
in such condition and weather ss not to be
seriously checked in their growth from the
transplsnting; select the best varieties. and
keep cash one separated from all other run
ners; permit no plant nor runner to remain
nearer than q foot to every other plant; a.
ways keep them clean, and not only uniform
large crops may be expected, but superior
fruit, and all at cost Of less than fifty cents
per bushe tor the mere cultivation, as my own
and others observation and experience aoun-
.iaotly attest The difficulty is, so many do
something as directed and neglect others,
which prove equally fatal. while many are
clogged with old idess, habits, and customs
on this subject, from viii Ih they only break
away enc thing at time. This will not do.
If YOU mulch your bed with tan, the mulch
will keep down the growth Of weeds near the
plant. / would let runoers grow, and IN the
Fall take ine rake and pull up the weak
plauts of the runners. This is cheaper than
any plan of cutting of the runners, and does
not injure the plants. ln setting plants,
would use the plants from the first end OF the
runners, because the roots are stronger than
those at the little end Of the vine. The VIII
son strawberry has been SO we'll tested Tor
four years past that | should be willing to
adept il iuto field culture. The universal
market here is the Crimson cone, which is
in favor on account Of it's ability to bear
transportation. The Wilson will, think,
bear transportation equally we'll.