The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-08-23
VOL. XVII.


and If sent in the cool month Of September
they will generally go safely. lfsubject t
much heat on their passage, they may '"me
tunes fail, but the chances are - greatly II
favor OF their success that it Is worth the eI
pertinent. Order them only Of reliable per
sons, who will take proper care in putin,
them up well. Dealers will generally pacI
two dozen plants Ofany such good kinds a
are nov abundant, and send them post'pai'
anywhere for dollar, or even less If undel
| 500 miles, these will multiply to hundred
the next year.
II Is now nearly time to look out for 9
supply Of plants. When not to be carried
far. it will do to begin to put out plants any
time alter the middle Of August, or before, Il
the new runners have become well established
The sooner they can be got to growing
this year, the larger and better will bc the
supply Of frui, next season. II we 20 far,
especially ifby mail, it is best to wait for
the cool weather Of September, or even the
frs, Of October. before taking up the plants.
We have obtained fruit the following season
from plants set out as late as November, but
so late planting is not advisable.
CalIra,e SrGirJerries in Hills. - Every
successive years experience and observation
conyinces US that when grown for fruit, tits,
as a rule, better to put out strawberry plants
in hills, Is or 20 inches apart, and pinch OF
the runners. If multiplication is desired,
let the runners set, but take up the plants as
fast as well rooted, and put them out in hills.
They can then be kept hoed almost US easily
as corn. and they will produce better fruit
and more OF il than if allowed to run in a
tangled mass or thick mat.
SOIL and Maaure. ure.-Stnwherrir will grow
on any soil but like every other plant, they
will paw for manure, and flourish best on a
moderately good loan. On good rich soil,
little manure is needed; but ON poor soil,
apply and dig in deeply a iair coating Of
we'll rotted manure. For clay soil, moth
ing is better than to tighten it up with rot
ten manure and large supply Of black earth
(lsaf mould) from the woods, or OF declyed
chips from the wood pile. IL the soil be
subject to standing water, il should be
drained. This may be done by throwing it
into high beds, or cutting deep paths b1tween
the beds or row. with an outlet to carry of
surplus water. A supply Of water below
eighteen inches in depth, is rather favorable
to the plants.
But too many Specifications will intimi-
date the inexperienced reader, and I'll ugh
tor extra crups OF extra berries, deep, thor
oughly prepared soil is essential, we now de-
sire to simll impress the fact that with II
very triaing outlay Of time and trouble, ,erery
garden may be supplied with u good bed Of
this most excellent fruit. They are grown
about as easily as coin. We rrpeat-goOd
strawberries can be readily gro,Va for siIty.
four cents bGshsl Zone cent a pins!
Winter Protection. In localities where
the soil is subject to much freezing and thaw-
ing, il is desirable to throw over the plots, at
the beginning Of winter, coat Of loose
straw or leayes-not enough to smother the
plants. or prevent their being irOzen, but
but msr " to keep them from frequent al.
tirnate ireCzing and thawing. Leaves are
not so good as straw, as the former mat
down and smother the plants more. As
good plan as any, il no; the best, is to
spread loose straw all over the plants, in No
yembcr or December, and in spring simply
move the covering from the top Of the plants
and le, it lie on the ground around thcm,
where il will smoother weeds, keep the
ground moist, prevent the soiling of the
fruit by rains dashing up the earth, and by
its gradual decay furnish manure.
What HRds 20 PiGrt.-Thcre are two
hundred or more named varieties of straw
berries, all Of which are readily distinguished
by some popularity Of form, color, shape Of
leaf and stem, &c. Many OF them are cou,-
paratively worthless; Others have proved
good generally, and are widely known; while
q number Of new sorts, which are doubtless
ot superior excellence, are not widely known,