The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-09-11


| decomposing.
| Governor Reed inquired the spec
ial.obiect of mulching.
DIR. johnson replied that the first
and most important object to be at
tanned was to keep the berries clean
and free from grit and sand; and
secondly, the retention OF moisture
around the plants, and prevention OF
the growth of grass and weeds.
Governor Reed had mulched the
whole surface of his strawberry beds
(both wet and dry land) two inches
deep. and found that small black
cricket harbored in the mulching, and
was very destructive to fruit and
plants. Had found it necessary to
cover the surface Of the high, dry
| land with some mulching material,
to keep the surface moist; but moist
or damp land was not much benehted
by mulching. o
MIR. Stevens has used aqua ammo
nio, l pound to 40 gallons OF water,
for the destruction of these crlekets,
and with great success:
DR. Johnson remarked that this
ammoniated water also stimulated
the growth of the plants, and this
gave an added valne, but 1t was
somewhat too expensive for common
use.
Mr.. Mason has also used the am
nominated water to destroy crickets
with success.
Mr.. Redmond advised mulching
only a strip OF Is OF IS inches wide,
including the row Of plants, leaving
the middles unmulched and open for
culture and the application Of iertil.
ling matter to the extremities OF
the feeding roots. The culture
should only be slight stirring of the
surface with the pronged hoe, and no
roots should be cut or disturbed at
any time, but especially during the
bearing season. Any of the mate
| rial mentioned, such as pine straw,
chopped up broom-sedge, marsh
grass, oak-leaves, ETC., will answer
| for mulch, but he gives the broom
sedge or marsh grass (cut up) the
preference.
For late Summer mulching to pro-
tect plants from the scorching
effect of the sun, DR.. johnson, Mr..
Mason, Governor Reed and Mr. Red
mond, all recommended rushes and
coarse grass from the marshes to be
spread thickly along the rows.
These salt marsh grasses and PUSHES
are a valuable fertilizer, either when
applied on the surface or composted
| with muck and stable manure, and
they should be extensively and freely
| used wherever they are readily OBJ
tainable.
WHAT is THE MOST SUITABLE MA
NURE FOR THE STRAWBERRY,
| DIR. johnson thought we should
| be very cautious in using stable ma
nure. IL would produce great
crop Of leaves and vines, but not
much fruit lie used, On mp land,
LIQUID poultry manure, not too strong,
/ with success. "a peek ol dry poul-
try maDdra 10 barrel Of wafer IS
amply Hcian. toporcor. DIR, j.
+ UorlG always use water III planting
Gcr The arnc5o 81 packing and scG-
ding The cata aToUd the roots a
wet CT damp -u dry poultry ma
nuro may &c Used safely. AIc has
! la3 better vines and fruit from The
use Of poultry manure, as above de-
! scIibe8 than from any other iertil-
izor: bus we must be careful not to
stimulate the strawberry too much.
| Mr.. Redmond favored cooling ma
nurea, such rs dry muck and wood
ashes, leaf mould, or surface soil
from the woods, etc Ashes, OF pot
| ash in some form, is absolutely indis
| pensable, In dry weather dip The
roots of strawberries in a thicl
grout" or batter Of woods earth
| ashes and fresh COW manure Just be
fore planting, This practice, with ;
little Watering and shading, gener
| ally insures the life of the plant
| Would not use much stable OF othe1
heating manures on any but cold
moist land
Governor Reed would stimulat'
the plant all it could safely bear tn
first year, so as to produce strong
vigorous bearing plants for She sec
ond years fruiting. Do not lie
. your plants oyerbear the first yea
and you will get a fine crop the sec
, ond season.
Mr.. Payne thought we should cal
in agricultural chemistry to aid us il
determining special manures for i.