The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-04-12
Aarifnltnral.
OULTUER OF STRAWBERRIES.

A quaint old friend used to remark to us
that 'tlie best way to do thing was good
as any" We have long been satisfied that
this would apply to strawberry raising. and
that what is termed hill cultivation, In con-
nection with keeping the runners closely
cut of, Is the most profitable, even for ex.
tended market culture. The crop Is 30
much larger and the berries so much finer,
that they more than repay the additional
labor Among the largcs, and most enter
pris'ns marketeB in the country is A. NJ.
Purly, Of South Bend, Ind. lie says: ave
have heretofore strongly advocated the mat
ted row system, but after careful and prac-
tical comparisons, we are satisfied that the
hill method Is the best, one year afler nnoth,
er. The fruit average double the size
tho crop double. and, on most soils, with
less lulor. In hills they form such strong
busl,y tops that the fru, aud blossoms arc
protected from severe late spring frosts.
Last spring we had late frost In May,
tlia, nearly ruined our plantations that grew
in matted rows, while those grown in hills
were hut slightly damaged, and yielded
very heavy crop. Another reason Is, TINT
the heavy tops mat down around the crown
in winter, and protect II from the action Of
the frost, while those grown in the matted
row form but small tops and are not thus
protected. Again, il the ground should be
weedy, they are attended to with much less
work and care than if allowed to throw
out runners. The work can nearly. all be
done with the hoe and cultivator, while II
in matted rows, Il has to be done with The
fingers, which Is very laborious indeed
lie adds that tho only case in which the
matted row method is admissible, Is where
the land Is quite free from weeds and is not
liable 10 severe frost in winter or spring
and while NIL varieties will do better when
in hills. some will not succeed in any other
way. As soon rs the hills are through
bearing, rotted manure or compost Is plow-
ed or spuded deep between the rows, and
in addition to cutting off all the runners
that are starting, the entire top Of the plant
is taken of close to the crown. That is
deemed very essential - preventing the
plant from remaining In dormant state for
weeks, and causing new roots to he thrown
out Immediately, and making large mass
ofsiool by autumn. The matted or alter
nate row system here formerly practised,
consists in keeping the rows clean after they
are set out, and trrining the runners along
The row so that they ultimately form thick
mass in strip about foot and n half wide.
Roucd manure Is scattered among them be.
fore freezing. and they arc worked and cul.
,ivated with the fork in spring. Ahcr fruit
ing, these rows are again dressed down to
about six inches in width. and treated as
before far another years hearing; or else
they nrc allowed to I'll with new plants the
spaces between the rows, nfler which the
old rows orc plowcd or spadcd in-succcs-
sion Of new plants being thus obtained
without tho labor Of setting Oh. by hand.
When tho plants arc placed in hills ut
equal distances each why, the runners may
l'c cut off at little or 10 cost by means Of u
sharp wheel attached to the side Of the cul.
tivator. A moro perfect mode, however, is
to do The work by hand with sl'arp sl'ears-
ly the use Of which a ready aud prncticed
man will 20 over from one to two ncrcs q
day. This mode may DO applied to rows
which ara cultivated only ono wuy.-Farm
and Freside.