Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-09
Cultivation orthe Strawberry.

Among the 5lnalltE runs Tue straw
berry is the surest and most productive,
aud to parties who live accessible TO a
market, it cannot fail to be remunera
tive, il properly cultivated The straw
berry requires rich clean land there is
very little use in planting them in soil
that is stocked with grass and weeds
Mr.. A. NJ Purdy,sof South Bend, Ind 4,
who is an extensive grower of the straw
berry, has adopted the opinion that rails
ing in hills is most profitable, while the
crop is much larger and the berries finer
lie says
We have heretofore strongly advocated
the matted row system, but after careful
aud practical comparisons we are satisfied
that the hill method il the best, one year
after another. The fruit average double
the size-the crop double, and, on most
soils with less labor In hills they form such
strong bushy tops, that the fruit and bios
som are protected from severe late spring
frosis. Last spring We had late frost in
May, that nearly ruined our plantations
that grew in matted rows, while those
grown in hills were but slightly damaged,
and yielded a very heavy crop. Another
reason is, that the heavy gops mat down
around the crown in the winter, and
protect il from the action of the frost, while
those grown in the matted row form but
small tops and are not thus protected.
Again, if the ground should be weedy, they
are attended 10 with much less work and
care than il allowed 10 throw out runners.
The work can nearly all be done with the
hoe and cultiyator, while if in matted rows
il has 90 be done with the fingers which il
very laborious indeed. He adds, that the
only case in which the matted row method
is admissible. Is where the land is quite
free from weeds and il not liable 10 severe
frost in winter or spring and while all
varieties will do better grown in hills,
some will not succeed in any other way.
As soon as the hills are through bear
ing, rotted manure or compost is plowed
or spaded deep between the rows, aud
in addition 10 cutting OF all the runners
that are starting, the entire top of the plant
is taken of close TO the crown. This is deem
ed very essential-preventing the plant
from remaining in q dormant state for
weeks, and causing new roots % be thrown
out Immediately, and making a large mass
Of stool by autumn. The matted or alter
nate row system here formally praoticed,
was described in some Of our former vol
umes, and consists in keeping the rows
clean after they are set out, and training
the runners along the row so that they ulti-
mately form a thick mass in a strip about a
foot or foot and a half vide. Ro.ted ma
nure is scattered among them before freez-
ing, and they are worked and cultivated
with the fork in the spring. Alter fruihng,
these rows are again dressed down 10 about
Sax inches in width, and treated as before for
another years bearing; or else they are al /
lowed 70 MI with new plants the spaces be-
tween the rows, after which the ola rows
are piowed OF shaded succession of new
plants being thus obtained without tbe
labor Of setting ont by hand.
When the plants are placed in hills at
equal distances each way, the runners nav
be cur on at little OF no cost by means Of
sharp wheel attached 70 the cultiyaior. A
most perfect mode, however, Is to do the
work by hand with sheep-shears-b the
use Of which ready aud practiced man
will 60 over from one 90 two acres a day.
This mode may be applied 70 rows which
ART cultivated only one way.
Mr. G. w G Payne, who lives few
miles out on the Gallatin pike, has large
stock Of the best varieties Of the straw
berry, where parties desiring 70 engage
in the cultivation Of this fruit can supply
themselves with plants The work Of
tranaPlauting should be done as early as
possible MI. Paynes catalogue win be
found az the head Of this column.