Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-09-03
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be the most wholesome fruit Of any, wheth. /
er found growing wild in the fields, or I'M
der cultivation in gardens. IL is also the
most delicious Of any Of the smaller kinds |
Of fruit to most persons Of cultivated taste /
The strawberry has two advantages over
all other fruit, which, though not generally /
known, will not be disputed by any persons
well acquainted with the subject that is, |
il is the most easily raised in small quanti- +.
ties in gardens and will produce fruit the
most quickly Of any other fruit bearing bcu-
NAL plant. There is no other plant grown in
our gardens that can reproduced aud made
to bear fruit within less than twelve months
from the time Of its setting up o separate
existence from its parent IL cannot be
raised from the seed and made TO produce
fruit in twelve months, but an offset, or
runner, as it is generally called can be
taken from plant at this present time,
which has been produced by the plant with
in a week past, and with very little care
made TO produce abuudantly by the last Of
next June, which will be less than eleven
months, and with the right kind Of cul,iva.
ton and hot house appliances it can be
made to fruit within six, or even five months.
| But hot houses arc not 70 he found in every
| garden in the interior cities and could not
be made to pay, by forcing Strawberries,
by any manner Of appliances if they we're
so | will try aud show how the fruit can be
raised in any garden and with but little care
without hot houses
The strawberry will grow and bear fruit
on almost any soil except dry, blowing
sand or a wet bog, but light, friable loan
suits the plant best, as it does almost all
other kind Of cultivated plants. For a
small bed of plants, in garden, it should
be spaded up at least one foot deep, pll the
better if two feet, and good dressing of
old, well rotted manure well mixed with
tho soil. If but small quantity Of ma.
nure only can be had it should be only mix.
ed with the surface soil. three or four inch.
es deep, after it has been first dug one or
two feet deep; but if an abundance Of ma
nure can be had, mix it in thoroughly with
the soil from the surface to the bottom, at
the rate of one.eighth Of cord for a square
rod Of land Rake thesurfacc down level,
and brake up all the Jumps with the rake
so as 10 make a fine. smooth bed then roll
il with n roller hard onouoh so that tho
feet will not make but SLIGHT imrrcssion
when walking across il Marx il into
rows three feet mart and set tbe nlants
one foot apart in the rows The plap,. are
nsuallv set hv making hole with n d;bblo
inst laro ono1gb 10 receive ali or tbo rooi.
pressed together into the hole and tbon
messing the soil eomnaotlv about tbom but
| the plants will be more likely 10 all live.
and thew will GROW onougb Gster to nav
for the extra work of MAKING a brand
shallow hole. about an inch 1een tbon
spread the roots Of the plant ont horizon.
tally over the bottom of the excavation and
carernllv cover thom with tho soil For
plants take the strongest offsets that have
grown from the old plants within a few
weeks past and be careful not 10 LET the
roots get the least dried before settinp them
in the ground prepared for them Within
week after the plants are set. stir the
surface of the ground between the plants.
and as often as every week after. and mil
out every weed that escapes the boeing nj.
soon as it shows itself If any runners
start out from the plants. cut them off also
j, AS soon as they show Themselves.
As soon as the ground freezes. cover the
plants lightly with strawv stable manure
but not deem enough 10 smother the nlonts