The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-03-21
Strawberry Culture.

A fair crop Of Strawberries can be
raised on almost any soil not affected by
surplus water. A very large crop can be
grown only on strong land deeply worked
and highly manured. A very thin soil
resting on a coarse sand or gravel SUBJ
soil, whatever may lie its composition,
will hold neither moisture nor fertility
sufficient to perfect large crop. think
one having land which he can plow two
feet deep without penetrating a stratum
sufficiently coarse to produce an audible
sound of grit on the plow when passing
through it, may conclude that he has
land suitable for strawberries, although
the degree of strength may be affected by
the kind of rock from which it came.
The matter of depth is an essential one.
I never set strawberry plantation with
out first plowing as near as possible two
feet in depth. TO do this, sub-soil plow
must follow in each surface furrow, not
to iuvert, but to disintegrate and lig ghten
the sub-soil. Sub-soil plowing more
than doubles the cost of plowing, but it
is an economical expenditure, and, for
strawberry culture or any other market
gardening, it probably is essential to
profit. Perhaps the time has arrived
with strawberry growers in many sec.
tions, when none but those who adopt
scientific and practical methods of cult
vation can find profit in the business.
Perhaps no other crop is more susceptible
to drouth, or will so we'll repay precau-
tions against it. Probably 1000 quarts
per acre is above the average crop, while
it might be made 5000 quarts or more
/ have repeatedly raised 5000 quarts per
acre. Now, as the same number Of
plants is required on an acre of poor
land rs on an acre of rich land, and
about the same number of hoeings, it is
evident that the profits are very much in
favor of the large crop.
Perhaps no question relating to straw
berry culture is more frequently asked
than "What kind of manure should be
used PA question equally pertinent re-
specting any other crop; yet an idea
seems to be more or less prevalent that
there is q specific manure for this crop.
There may be but it is unknown to me.
My answer to the question is, "any good
manure" Thgquantity of manure neces-
sary to produce q profitable crop may be
set at not less than twenty cords of good
stable manure, or, such quantities of
other manure es shall produce an equal
effect. Let one-half of it be plowed in,
and one-fourth narrowed in, and one
fourth reserved for top dressing after the
plants are set, just before Winter sets in.
1t is especially desirable that this Au-
tumn top dressing shall consist of some
fertilizer other than stable manure-of
something free from foul seeds.
Bear in mind that this writer speaks
from an experience on old, long worn
soil.-Ed. Recorder.
It may now be inferred that for sue
cessful strawberry crop deep soil thor
oughly enriched is essential. The thor
ughness in working produces such
soil as will allow almost all the water of
rains to gently percolate through it in
stead of running Gff. This carries ele-
ments of fertility from the upper stratum
down tar below the effects Of the severcst
drouths, and the roots are sure 10 90 there
after them. will add that it is not pru-
dent to set strawberry plants on an in
yerted sward for fear of the ravages OF
the cut worm. Any one dssirous of pro-
ducing berries enough for family use,
may make use of the above suggestions,
substituting the spade for the plow.-
Cor. Fruit Recorder.