The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-07-16
EGricnltrr .
From Chase's Prairie Frtit Cul:Grist.
The Sirayherry


The first, the f:irest and the best of all
the fruits of the year. Welcome by the
sunny banks OF the quiet meadow brook
or spread wide on the prairie swells 1t is
at home i'll every part of the temperate
climates, and adapts itself TO nearly every
soil
Lscastcq and .S9:L-It fiourishes best in
sheltered situation on a warm. sandy loan.
deeply worked. The alluvial by the Dor
ders OF streams washed III from the high
er lands, forming rich, loose texture.
nOuriShed by the favoring circumstances
81 living water near at hand. are particti.
larry adapted TO the growing OF fine large
fruit
ftela CU'tnfe-Having spared no pains
III the preparation OF the soil that 1t be
tine, loose and permeaLle to the dew and
gentle ram. lay OF the plat INTO rows OF
two feet apart. Plant IN the spring I've
rows OF fruitful or pistiliate and one Of
stiminate or uni. uitful vines The ground
should Ice moistened thoroughly before
removal to preserve ali the tibrous roots
Loosen the dirt fully before attempting 70
remove them. The soil in which they
are planted should also be moist: a damn
day i better for the work. or plant towards
ereHing, If dry, :: thorough wettiIs shod
b. resortcd to. Protect Il few DAYS from
the sun with boards or brush laid up Il
little above them. III bright weather II
the plants are large, remove some Of the
lower leaves IN prevent evaporation thro'
them. Planting Is safe till blossolnin-
" ith extra care may he done at any time
Pinch of all the leaves but two OF three
on setting.
Ii the runners incline 10 spread. keep
them back by p!nchIng III or the Use OF a
fa1.s !.
rows half an inch deep. At all times keep
the grounds religiously free from weed.
They drink up the moisture from the soil
which the vines need
To@z--.1a aai -UlHssrcg In the fall give
= coating OF leaf mold for winter protec-
ton, halt an inch deep or more then give
n coating of wood ashes IN the spIin. If
the mold il not easily obtained. resort may
be mad to partly rotten straw from the
bottom OF stacks. or even clean straw
The cOarser the material the thicker
have the covering This must be re-
rIovei in the spring before the growing
season comes on. Too deep covering may
prov IItal If straw. etc, are used tor
protection, give dressing of Leaf mold
,-..r.. ~ the spring, and the ashes about
,hr time Of blO-soming, This l. the best
time - apply the ashes, o. use well fer
nentel barn yard manure. Il IS improved
by making !uto light compost with the
black prairie soil a year before u-iIe
The peculiar advantage Of mold and
asn-- l.. that they furnish the night plant
food without stimulating the throwing out
Of runners Neither do they Disseminate
til seeds OF weeds, a. do other mlnures
Tho advantage OF the compost Is above
would be similar. Strong stable manure
IN the spring Is injurious rather than ben
ctie.Al Use II ii the tall
The united testimony of strawberry cui-
t;yttor- :. that any one who can manage
q crop Of com or POTATOES, can, if he Will,
grow Strawberries; and that too with bet
ter and more certain pecuuiary reward
than ANY farm crop.
Samuel Edwards, Is = Of The Ever
greens. has nineteen acres il cultivation.
Writing OF his o..! experience lie says:
- IS much less trouble to grow them
On new land a, before the weed. are able
u get ! toothoi1, the strawberry plants
cover the ground,
-Nc- Eteuh P-sss:e=-I have planted
on newly broken prairie IN May with eX-
C-ii-It ,uc..'-~. The hes, plan j. 20 trcus L.
I!,w iIHi dep il the fill. which was bro
ken up III June previous. harrow IN April
and plant ~ VOWS thgc, 10 four fee. apart.
twelv- ~ eighteen inches in the r.w i,ee,,
clean with 4 cultiyat0r and hoe inst "a
son \ moderate crop of fine berries viii
b. harvested next year; the groIld com
pletely cccuii-d with the plants. The
following year the best crop Is grown.
After the crop Is gathered give liberal
dressing Of well rotted manure and leached
ashes, but never. on any account, manure
our rich soils before; ii YOU do, a large
crop of blossoms will be produced. tut
very little fruit Never follow the direc-
tons Of Eastern writers. and manure land
Dei"r- planting. The third spring after
planting. 20 over the plantation as soon
- the most has come out two or three
inches and tear up onehali the plants BY
following this course | have had them o.
cl'py the same ground for seven years, to
srr ter profit than to plow then. W for
any other crop Labor has been too nigh
u .e.set them They can be rs succes s!uliy
planted IN August or early September, IL.
VT time
10 renew beds plow alternate strips three
ct vide, level with the harrow, soon as
Inc crop Is OF.
F. GH1tea Cs'hws-Pla1c; ting in hills is
!re:erat.,- distance apart ten inches or
m--r. This method affords room to keep
- I'D perfectly free from weeds by the
Loe. aud produces the largest crops and
finest favored fruit Renew tie plants
once il three years and change location
i: possible; if not prepare soil anew.
R-7lrk-fLe free U,e OF water is indis-
pensab'c il the culture Of the strawberry
When the clouds withhold their wonteI
supplies, abundant watering must be prac-
iced hot il light, gentle showering from
y watering pot but IN drouths, copious
quantities. thoroughly saturating the whole
spil, will be found Indispensable This viii
= ~ =. 81 q 1! J
during drouth. To understand the pro-
priety of this course, look at their many
broad leaves covering the entire ground.
and consider their power TO throw Oft
moisture. BY the Iiudicious use OF water
and shelter the period Of bearing may be
prolonged for months.
In resortinG to shelter it should not be
such IS 10 make a tttct shade and may lie
removed late when the sun is no longer
scorching.
.Hart6t Garisa-When it Is intended 10 ,
commence a strawberry bed for market .
purposes, the aim should be to get stu
alton convenient 10 the market, or near .
railroad tation, at some point where fruit I
cal. be marketed early, before the general /
,u-h = made, TO secure the best profits. /
w market in draws four inches deep, /
holin- one bushel each II carefully /
handled they arrive III first class order
Would prefer sending them in two quart .
cases, Il 50 many were not lost by failing ,
t. be returned
The strawberry is fortunate in being
permitted 10 grow without any enemy or
disease III Tote
BLlCEHEEKT WISE-Express the juice /
through thick cloth to prevent any
puil~ from mixing with it. To one quart /