The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-04-18
AGa1Guu.runAL.

Rnos's Nss,ssagy. 3LS6& shsA our people
are going to pay attention 70 the z day of
small things that is, abandoning large
plantations and cnltiyating smaller tracts,
we would recommend fruit culture to their
attention. We have heard q greet deal
about the establishment of J. Knox, Of
Pittsburg, as o reliable person from whom
to procure reliable plants by mail. We
take the following from the agricultural
column of tho New York Tribune:
No better investment of $Iocan be made
by a family, blessed with garden than to
send liz to j. Knox of Pittsburg. He will
return, by mail, free Of all charges, q com
plete assortment of grape-vines, strawberry
plants, rasberries, .gooseberries, and cur
rants. Mr.. Knox is sometimes called the
King of Small Fruit Culturists.
Strdrberrr Caltare.-Every one who has
a garden shOuld grow few rawberries.
1t In very simple matter togrow o mod
crate crop; but 20 produce il in abundance
and of the best quality requires consider-
able skill ami constant care
The best and largest crop of strawberries
that i ever raised was produced In the
following manner: A bed twenty-five feet
wide and two hundred feet long, was
prepared by spreading upon 1t twelve cart
loads Of old, well-rOtted cow manure; the
ground was then plowed deep and
the middle Of April the plants were set out
in rows. two feet apart, with space OF
about eighteen inches between them.
No weeds were allowed to grow among
the plants, and the surface OF the soil was
stirred at least once @ week during she
entire simmer. Two or three runners
were allowed to grow from each plant, and
these were placed SO that they would take
root between the old plants in the rows.
Z In the autumn, when the ground
began to freeze quite hard at night, the
entire bed and plants were covered with
coarse grass TO the depth of two inches,
after it had partially settled. To prevent
the mulching being blown of, few poles
were laid around the outer edge of the bed.
In the spring, after the severe weather was
past, q man passed along each row, and
with stick parted the mulching just over
the centre of each row of plants, SO as to
allow the air and light to reach the
crowns and permit the leaves and fruit
stalks to grow up without hindrance. None
of the mulching was removed from Il
beds; consequently the soil was kept
moist and the fruit clean. This bed yielded
a little over twelve bushels of fruit the
second season after planting, which was the
first crop; after the fruit was gathered, all
the mulching was removed, and the soil
between the rows was forkcd over, but no
more manure of any kind applied. The
fQEnerS were not allOWcQ TO grow OF take
root except in places where there was a
vacant space in the rows, and the next fall
the mulching was applied the same as
before. This treatment was continued for
four years, and then the plants were plowed
under.
have tried many different systems of
culture for the strawberry, but none that
has given SO much satisfaction as this one,
and, although it may be too expensive for
extended culture, yet for the amateur who
does not grow more than a half acre or
acres and desires to produce the largest
amount possible on q given space, / conf
dentiaily recommend the above as being a
system that will not only give an abundant
crop. but the greatest amount OF pleasure
and profit. Many of the most delicate but
large foreign varieties will succeed when
treated in this manner, although they often
fail when grown without mulching or
winter protection. - it'n -sst1s55Z' 70 ID n
A premium crop of potatoes was raised
last year by Mr.. Z. H. Bogert, of Rosiyn,
J.. ]. In 1867 the field was planted to corn,
having previously received an application
In 1868 the same amount of horse-manure
was applied, and the potatoes, the Harrison
variety, were planted on April 20th, nearly
three feet apart in the rows, One acre
yielded $50 bushelss worth $4Sz 80. The
manure cost $6S, the seed $25, the blowing,
culture, etc; $25; in all 81 lST1leaying $3.50
80 profit. The crop received the prize
offered by the Queens County Agricultural
Society. =