Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-07-03
Strawberries for Family Use.

Every farmer ough to raise strawberrie
for at least the use Of his family, because, il
most cases, if he does not, his family must d,
without them. A fruit so delicious aud healthy
and which can be so easily grown, should
be found in its season on the table Of ever,
man 10 the country who controls land enough
to grow patch" of them. Small plant
ings well cared for, MANFRED and mulched
will probably yield more fruit and enjoyment
than almost any other crop which can be
grown. A bushel TO a rod is not at all re.
markable, while double that amount would
only be to equal what has occasionally beer
done on a large scale by successful aud en-.
terprsing growers.
There is Of course, a best time to plant
them, but as a matter Of fact, they can be
planted at any time during the growing sea-
sou. Midsummer is not the best time. be.
cause then it is apt to be hot and dry, but
ample waterngs will obviate this difficulty in
the case of small paintings A farmer, or a
farmers wife even, or their children. if dc.
termined on getting out a small planting to
supply next years table, will not be deferred
by such little difficulties as the watering Of a
few hundred plants. The great point is to
resolve to do it, and then to put that resolu.
ton into effect.
How to plant needs little calculation. -
With plenty Of moisture, strawberries will
grow about as easily as grass This we men.
ton for the benefit Of careless people, but the
other sort will see to it that the roots are well
covered. II the ground is not rich, some
manure placed near them which the young
roots can feed upon as soon as they start,
will help them greatly. Then with the hoe
or the cultivator, or both, as may be most
economical, keep down the weeds aud keep
the ground open, and most OF the difficulty
in raising strawberries is accomplished
Where it is desired to retain the bed through
series Of years, the runners must also be
pulled OF cut of. Children can do this readi-
ly and rapidly who are too young to use the
hoe. With the runners kept down, the hills
will attain a large size, and the berries will
also correspond If allowed to run, the first
crop Of fruit will be about as prolih, in the
lumber of quarts, but the berries will not be
SO fine, the ground will be likely to suffer
greatly from the drain upon it for moisture
by so many plants, and by the weeds which
will inevitably creep in, aud the second crop
will be feeble and abortive. la fact, one
satisfactory crop is all that can usually be ex-
pected from a planting which is allowed to
Z" run" On the other hand, if the runners
are kept down. and an annual dressing OF ma.
nure be applied the plantation will give salts
faction through series of years exactly
how many will depend on the thoroughness OF
the care given it,
The labor of taking care of strawberry
bed after it is well started can be greatl,
lessened by mulching. The material for this
can be had on any farm where corn, grain, or
grass is grown. Cover the ground between
the plauts just enough so that the weeds will
not grow, and many benefits will result. The
earth below the mulch will be moist and mel.
low weeds will be smothered the plants
will almost smile at drouth and the cost OF
the mulch (if any will be reimbursed in the
labor saved. The runners will still grow, but
the children can pull them off rapidly lu
the Deighborhood of salt meadows salt hay
can be employed to excellent advantage, ana
its toughness will make it last well, probabl,
two seasons or more. On many inland farms
common bog grass" generally deemed al.
most worthless, can also be used. For win.
ter mulching-that is, when the plants them
selves are to be covered, corn stalks are ex. |
cellent, while they are also good for summer,
but being coarser than grain it will require |
greater bulk to keep down the weeds. Long, |
strawy manure, or straw which has been used |
for the bedding of stock, is also excellent
the liquid manure attaching will be washed
into the soil, and the straw remain above as
mulch. Anything in fact which will shade
The ground between the plants and smother
'ther vegetation is good as a mulch. The
,nly objection to straw and common hay is
hat the seeds will terminate, sometimes even
when they do not touch the earth but il
hat case the hot sun will be likely soon to
ill them, and in the other case they can be
'ulled up. Let the mulch lie until it rots
md disappears, and it then furnishes a ferti.
Ger, and as soon as the weeds start, smother
hem by fresh application.
1t takes SO little ground and requires so
little work to supply family with strawber-
ries, that we urge-and mean TO re.urge--
This matter on the attention of farmers. Com.
planning, as some Of them do, of their lack Of
city enjoyments, Strawberries furnish chance
Tor something exquisite and healthiul T; and
fresh berries are better than what city peo
pie eat The first dish of strawberries in |
any family is like the first sunshine after
rainy week; the second is not essentially dill. |
ferent and it becomes common pleasure
only by its proongation. But common
things after all are the best for making
life pleasant
AN lSouIRy.-l have strawberry bed
two years old. If take up the plants this
fall aud root-prune, prepare the bed anew and
replant, will it lessen the next crop? As II
desire to enlarge the bed, do you know any
better variety than the Agricuturist, consid.
ering everything? They do well here J.
W. Il. Broadicay, Va by "bed " we
understand our correspondent to refer to n
plantation where the runners have pretty
much had their own way. If SO, and he
wishes plantation from which he can raise
fruit through series of years without re.
planting let him prepare his ground well aud
plant III rows three feet apart, and fifteen or
eighteen inches in the row; keep down the !
runners and weeds; keep the ground open un- |
I'll some time next summer or fall tunIil they
appear to have attained their full sizel, and |
then mulch them heavily. As to the variety
" considering everything" the Wilson will |
doubtless give the best satisfaction. --Cmti.
pator.