Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-06-18

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Society:
SIR: At the request of several fellow
members of our society | am induced to
present a few remarks, the results Of my
experience and observations in the cult
walton of the strawberry in the vicinity
/. of Nashville. That the finer varieties of
this earliest and most grateful fruit can be
grown here in perfection, the experience
of the past two years has satisfactorily
proved: that it can be proiitably grown
here for the purpose of shipping to points
further north has also been tested to a
limited extent by few enterprising cul-
iiYators, with a success that encourages
more extensive operations in the CONNER
cial line, and which must eventually be-
come a source of pccuniary profit to The
industrial interests of the state. To Sc
cure this desirable contamination it will
be necessary to test the merits OF the
most improved kinds. First as to their
adaptabilny 10 our soil and climate.
Secondly, as to their quality in regard to
bearing, handling and carriage, 1t being
well known 20 experienced culliyators
that several of the finest varieties, as re-
CARDS size, flavor, ETC., are too soft TO
bear profitable transportation to distant
markets. Thirdly, as TO size and general
appearance.
VARIETIES.
SO far as tested, the writer believes the
Wilson's ALGaly combines in itself more
of the desired qualities than any other
variety he has seen tested here. Charles
Doaoni,ag succeeds the Albany in time OF
ripening; and is superior TO it il all the
desirable qualities of sweetness, flavor and
continued production OF large size
fruit, and with the experience OF TWO
wears of most variable character as re-
cards seasons and the weather, we think
il the very best variety for this section,
and feel that we cannot too highly recon-
mend it for general cultivation. 1t ha;
been tried and tested the last very dry hoi
summer by several ct our members, and
all, without exception, award it the
highest praise possible. Mr.. President,
YOU may recollect that at our first spring
exhibition sample of this fruit, sent
from Bowling Green, KY, was awarded
the first premium. Triumph dc Gd,1d,
as an amateurs fruit, still stands A,
No l, for beauty, size and the
richest flagarial flavor. Ii, however, re
quires high culture on the hill or single
stool system, 10 develop its finest quail
ties. Fillmore is q large, handsome, good
favored fruit; its pistillate character is,
however, likely to be an objection to its
general introduction, although when well
supplied with std39inute neighbors it is
said TO be productive and profitable.
Green Prolific is q very productive va
Al &c,
Ceding many of the berries are imper
fectlv fortified; it is also too soft for mar
keting, bat good family berry. Wash
ington or IOlca Male is a very early
variety, the plant very hardy, Withstand
ing unscathed both summer heat and
winter frost acid and deficient in flavor,
but by some considered profitable fol
early marketing. Georgia Mammoth
we think has little to recommend it bu
hardihood of plant and late ripening; boil
the two latter we think might be profita
lily superseded by superior new varieties.
lucinda, worthless here, is the testi-
mony by I'll who have tried it within thu
writer's knowledge. We have thus briefly
described the leading varieties we have
seen tested here; TO further enlarge would
swell this communication to an unprotit
able length.
PREPARATION OF THR OROTND.
Preparation of the ground should b(
10y deep p,owings, in clay subsoils no
less than twelve inches, fifteen to eighteen
is still better, after breaking, the surface
should be well pulyerized by the harrow
and roller if necessary, so as to leave al
even level surface. Well rotted, old stable
manure should be applied previous to thu
last narrowing, so as to have II well incor
pOratcd with the surface. Shout
old stable manure not be q
command, we strongly recommend an sp
plication of the superphosphste Of linn
sown broadcast at the rate of 500 pound
TO the acre. We have proved this TO b
the very best fertilizJng material for tn
strawberry; It's easy application, read
availability and lasting quality, all cor
spire to recommend it to general favor
it may also be benefcially used in i
liquid state, by dissolVing one pound {
the crude powder in eight gallons of watC
and applying it to the plants in dry tim
during their growing season; IT should |
mixed ten or twelve hours previous
using. We recommend our friends to II
this process, if only on limited scal'
1t is the readiest and quickest mode {
testing the merits Of any fertilizing mate
rial
DISTANCES FOR PLANTING.
If designed to cultivate the ground
horsepower, the plants should
set in rows, the rows four fe
apart and the plants one foot apart in th
rows. The first season an intermedia
crop of some early maturing vegetable
as early York cabbages, snap beans,
dwarf sweet corn, may be grown in Il
centres between the rows, as 1t will
necessary to keep down the weeds by Gu
tivating the ground through the GROWN
season. Hand working-if on limitC
space which will not admit of horse pOy
cr-the plants may be set in rows ~
feet apart, and the plants one foot apa
in the rows, in which case all rune
should be carefully cut off and not q
lowed to take root; this Is known as q
hill or single shoot system and undout
cily is the system to get the create
amount of fruit from given surface
ground. The most successful smate
strawberrysgrower of my acquaintance s
his plants three feet apart, keeping off
runners, and lis production of fruit W
surprising TO behold, as also was the 81
of the growing plants; he MANFRED highl
Mulching-is we believe the only adj
tional instruction necessary to compile
the at least theoretical information |
longing to the subject. Mulching appI
TO strawberry culture may effect at lie;
three desirable and different objects: fir
by covering the surface of the grou
Immediately contiguous TO the plants
assists to retain moisture by obstructi
evaporation; secondly, it prevents
heaYing out of the plants by freezi
when planted in the fall; thirdly, it he
keep the fruit clean and free from dirt
grit by rains whenripening. Various n
tcrials are used for this purpose, as S
dust, spen: tan bark, straw, grass, etc.
WIN. HEAVIER, Cor. Sec.