The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-04-07
a Secret Of Vegetation Water III
Growing Berries, etc.

There are some fields that will grow
strawberries In spots, and some viii
grow them throughout; and yet the
soil seems the same in grain or grass.
You look to SOC tho difference. but you
find it not. We have known manfred
spots that would yield berries hand.
somcly. and we have seen manfred
spots that would not yield the straw.
berry. SO will the raspberry show
tricks Of tho same kind-and more so,
il possibc-growing we'll on light,
sandy, or vegetable soil, or on heavy
rich loan. The best berries. however,
both blackberry, and raspberry, are
grown on rich, IN DIST, but we'll drained
porous soil. The berry needs moist
urc. All kinds Of berries will do bet
ter IN drouth along creeks or near
springs, or when watered Thoroughly
and frequently. This is our experience
with the wild berry Of all kinds, and
the domestic fruit. The best triid
strawberries wo ever saw were grown
near black soil water puddle, in new
land that had been cleared for year
or two. The berries were immense.
and surprised US. (This was in 1857
in q drouth. 1t was the moisture. for
along o brook near by there was the
same success, though not to the same
extent. The ground where these ber-
ries grew was dry. A few inches low
er was the runnel, The ends Of the
roots extended into the moisture. We
think, however, that the black, prBty
soil, mellow and seemingly rich. had
an influence, as bushes and grasses
grew rank around the little pool. But
nothing grew like tho berries there
vine and fruit aliSe-and several pick
ings thereafter were the same.
In drouth berries shrink. This is
universal; in some soils more, in some
less. Cistern water, or better, the soft
srated water Of a brook, will remedy
tho evil, but not as effectually as a
shower, OF. series Of showers, will dc
1t. But there is not much difference
The difficulty is, we do not waite,
enough, even If we think VIC do, and
do it copiously. We do it not halt
enough then. A rain Of an hour vii
beat all our efforts. And that is ouls
"brush,"a shower; it is not suf1i
cient; it only gives a drink, but does
not help much to feed. Hours of CO
pious watering for several days is nccd
ed. Then the ground will be moist
cned down to the roots, and not before
Then there will be growth; it vii
finish your crop, or mostly. This j!
what is wanted, and not what we al
most always havc-a mere sprinkliDe
"a hurt to the strawberry and othe>
fruit and garden stuff.
A,,s1 =
we tried it till We became surprised
satisfied. No person who has never
tried it has IN idea how much waite,
will be taken by the ground in
drouth, when the drouth ia severe.
Water, therefore, is ono Of the No
cessities OF good growth Of fruit
only necessity, as it is a means how
ever. But there is something in I'll,
soil-in some soils at least, that is be
yond our comprehension-a something
that doubtless feeds Cor witholds from
the plant-some quality that acts ma
nurially possibly. What is it? Villa
is it that causes this difference in 9th
er fruit. and in vegetation, we may SAY
generally. The tobacco Of Cuba il
subject TO this Same freaS in its flavor
so is the grapevine Of Europe; III,
grapevine here our apples 8; our pears
what not? For quality we can some
times account BY elevated sites: bu
the why's and wherefores arc still. hid
den; we can only guess.
Tho subject is important, and hi.hl,
so. Who can fsthom it? Who vii
try it5 or has any one tried and will
what success: We wish to grow
strawberries as some spots in the ticlt
grow them; grow the Havana flavor
as some soils in Cuba grow it. II,
that will reveal this will show US Quit,
likely how to grow strawberries am
Havana flavor almost anywhere; To,
it Is not certain that climate has muci
to do In the matter; not tho grra
belts OF latitude, for bad tobacco i:
grown in Cuba, aud good favor (of tn,
wecd) in Connecticut. This secret q
nature we are yet to learn; and It is Of
moro importance than the finding ot .
star.-Jouraal Of agriculture. :
A little fellow having been much