Middletown transcript., 1870-01-15


row and keep the space open between
them. AS the season advances, the row.
gradually widen by the runners taking
root, and in the fall they should have
formed beds from u to 2 feet in width
The cultivator, of course must be grad.
ually narrowed, and finally but one tooth
is used.
The following year, after the picking
season is over, if the beds are to be kept
for ant,her year, the cultivator with one
tooth is used to keep open the walks, the
beds must be weeded by hand. We COM
monty pick our beds for two seasons, some
times more and sometimes only once, ac-
cording to the state they happen to be in.
In the winter, when the earth is hard
frozen, the whole ground, the walks as
well as the beds, is covered evenly and
carefully with stable manure. The plants
grow up through this in the spring, and
it serves to keep the fruit clean. Great
care must be taken to get manure that is
clear of hay seed, as grass is the one
great enemy of the strawberry.
have followed this plan for 20 years
and have never seen any cause to wish to
change it for any other.
The large Strawberry growers of New
Jersey and other places, cultivate in beds
double this width, and l suppose find that
to suit them best. The much talked of
plan of growing in hills. never had any
faith in. l have tried it on a small scale,
without success. The great Strawberry
grower, Mr.. Knox of Pittsburg, advo-
Gates this, as the only true plan, and he
certainly grows one, and l believe only
one, variety with great success. l do
not profess, as he does, to grow straw
berries by the fifty acres; but am sure,
when | saw his Strawberry crop, three
years ago, there was not as much fruit on
his whole fifty acres, as | can now show
on three acres. l do not mention this in
any spirit of boasting, but merely as
means of comparing the two systems of
cultivation. wish it to be understood
that in making these remarks l am not
advocating any particular system of cul-
ture as better than any other. The es-
sential part. SO fur as mere cultivation is
concerned, seems to be to keep the beds
clear of weeds and grass and any system
of cultivation that will do this perfectly,
and with the least labor, is the best. |
might add, that think it important that
the ground should be stirred, and the run
ners trained along the rows, so that the
beds will bo compact, and the walks be-
tween them kept open. | know of no
implement that will do this SO effectually,
and with such facility, as the common
horse cultivator and l will just say here,
that | consider horse culture, or, what is
better, mule culture, by far the best for
everything of tho kind, as 1t stirs the
ground more thoroughly than is ever done
with the hoe.
The question of wide or narrow beds is
only important as it regards the facility of
gathering the fruit in the best condition,
and would be worth discussing, if time
allowed.
The relative merits of the " Hill" and
" Bed" systems have been so thoroughly
discussed that there is probably nothing
new left to be said on the subject, and
nothing but facts can settle it,
There are a thousand other questions
with this subject, which it
would be interesting to discuss, but fear
ing that l have already trespassed too
ong on your patience, will leave to
others the further discussion of the subject.