The Portland daily press., 1876-09-19
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Starting awberries in Pols.

Mr. Peter Henderson explains as follows in
the American Agrisuturalist, how he can grow
a full crop Of strawberries in ten months from
the time of starting the plants:
Our success in the culture of straw be rries BY
the system of layering the runners in pots, has
been so complete the past season that even at
the risk of repeating some of the directions
already given, will briefly state how it is done.
In July, of 1875, We threw out every other row
of the plants that had fruited, thus leaving the
rows four feet apart. This space between the
rows was deeply plowed three or four times SO
as to thoroughly pulverize it. 1t was then lev
eled with rake, and the runners from the old
plants, as soon as they began to grow freely,
led out upon it. Flower pots, II inches in dia-
soil up to the brim, and the layers or buds at
the ends of the runners were placed on the
earth in these pots.
To keep the runners in place, we use small
fiat stones, which are laid upon them, and
these also help to mark the place where the
pots are sunk. The layers so placed on the soil
of the pots are not only kept down, but are
kept moist by the stones, and root rapidly. In
two to four weeks from the time the operation
is done, the plants are we'll rooted in the pots,
and ready to be set out. Our plants last year
were set out from the pots the first week in
August; not single plant died and all grew
freely. They were set in rows two feet apart,
and Is inches between the plants, and all the
runners made were at once pinched off, 30 that
by the end of the season each plant was nearly
q foot in diameter. having finely develope
''crowns' for next seasons fruiting. The
ground had first been prepared before planting
By blowing and subsoiing to the depth of Is
Inches. turning down at the same time or
inches of well-r0tted manure, from the horse
or cow stable Of course the ground was kept
entirely clear of weeds.
By the middle of December, the whole bed of
strawberry plants was covered with salt-mead-
Ow hay tstraw, leaves, or anything similar, will
do as welD to the depth of two or three inches,
entirely covering up the plants and soil so that
nothing was seen but the hay. By April the
plants showed indications of growth, then the
hay was pushed little aside, and by May, the
full developed plant showed on the clean sur
face of the hay, This mulching is indispensa-
BILE to the best culture as it protects the plants
from the cold in winter. keeps the fruit clean,
and at the same time keeps the roots cool by
shading the soil from the hot sun in June.
The crop began ripening June 10th, and was at
Its best on june 10Th; the yield was perfectly
enormous. Each plant of the ''Seth Boyden"
variety averaged quart, many of the berries
being nearly an ounce in weight. In a
trial Of some fifteen vrrieties, our choice was
for the following as presenting the best COM
bination of qualities: Seth Boyden, earliest ar
largest and fair flavor; Monarch of the West,
large size and fine flavor; Charles Downing,
medium early and of medium size, fine flavor.
Our soil is heavy clayey loan, with a stiff SUBJ
soil. I am convinced that the most profitable
way to grow Strawberries, either for market or
for private use, is by this system. Any handy
man can place 1000 layers in pots in day.
Each layer in ten months makes a plant that
gives its full crop of fruit. The labor is less
than by any other method, because nothing
more has to be done after planting but to keep
the crop clear of weeds, and pinch off the run
ners for only six weeks of the year, while with
beds planted in spring in the usual way, you
have nearly six months work ON them, with no
better plants in the fall Besides, when
ground is limited, there is plenty of time by
this system to throw out the plants that have
fruited In June, and plant the same ground
over again in August with the young plants
from pots. That is really our own practice, for
the space we devote to strawberries is less than
an acre. In our experiments the past season,
we found that no variety which had been left
two seasons to fruit, produced so largs crop
as the young plant, and the berries were hardly
half the size. This system of starring plants
In pots and setting them out in August, prop
erly carried ont, will never fail to give entire
satisfaction in growing strawberries.