Sharp County record., 1879-05-22

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managed in this way, compared with one
on the old method of bringing heifers
to profit at years, will show at least
50 per cent. more profit on the modern
than on the ancient plan.-NeW York
Times.
STRAWBERRIES FOR FARMERS GAR
DENs.-How few farmers, comparative
| ly, raise strawberries even for their own
table, when no other fruit is more easi-
ly raised or more healthful! They
ripen before other fruits, and at time
when the housewife is anxiously inquir-
ing of herself what she can possibly get
for dinner that will be change from
e-plant and dried-apple pie. A straw
berry bed one rod in width and four
rods in length, planted with two varie-
ties will produce all the berries family
of eight persons can possibly use for at
least month. The time and trouble
of their cultivation is less than that of
raising patch of potatoes of equal size.
l am sorry that so many farmers limit
their gardening to a few rods of early
potatoes, half-a-dozen hills of cucum-
bers and an onion bed, and in defense
of their shiftlessness say that they have
no time to cultivate more extensive
garden. Such men are, of course, work
ing to earn little money to provide
food, clothing and comforts for their
families. What could add more to the
comfort, health and happiness OF any
family than we'll stocked fruit and
vegetable gardenp
I have raised Strawberries several
years, and my little experience may be
of service to some who are thinking OF
planting strawberries this spring.
About nine years ago purchased straw
berry plants, said to be Wilson's; plant
ed bed one rod in width by three rods
in length, setting the plants one foot
apart, in rows two feet apart. spent
hours and even days in hoeing and cut
ting off runners and blossoms, and not
withstanding this they were nearly a
solid mass of vines in the fall. They
were then carefully covered with course
straw manure, which was mostly re-
moved in the spring. | noticed that
the blossoms were small and not very
numerous, but waited impatiently for a
large crop of fruit, which never came.
On the whole piece picked a few quarts
of very small, sour berries. left them
another year, thinking that the second
year they would be all right, but the
next year they were smaller and fewer
still. Afterwards l got some genuine
Wilson's, and they proved satisfactory.
In the spring of 1877, 1 set three quar-
ters of al acre Of Wilson's, and sent to
Poughkeepsie for two thousand mixed
plants of Monarch of the West, Col.
Cheney, Downing and Seth Boyden. |
set the plants in rows three and half
feet apart, and about two feet apart in
the row.
Never put strawberries on land in
tested with quack, but take land that
is sure of a good crop of wheat, which
will be sure to produce a good crop OF
strawberries. Set as early in spring
as possible, and cultivate as soon as
any weeds appear; hoe three or tour
times. AS soon as the runners start,
turn them towards the row. 1t is a
waste of time to cut runners or blossoms
Towards fall narrow up the cultivator
so as to leave about half the ground
covered with matted rows, but never let
them run entirely together. Cover with
straw or coarse hay, as soon as the
ground is frozea. l find swale grass
the best, as it contains no foul seeds
In spring, as soon as all danger of freez'
ing is over, rake it partially off between
the rows, and they need no farther at
tention until they commence to ripen.
The yield from my two thousand mix
ed plants was a little over fourteen
hundred quarts, and their extra size anc
quality helped me to wholesale my Will
sons along with them at ten cents pei
quart, while other growers were selling
them at wholesale at five cents PEI
quart. So 1 found it more profitable
to purchase plants Of reliable parties
For beginners, 1 think Monarch of th'
West and Wilson are as good as an,
varieties l am acquainted with. Any
$40 lo,-;xo. 1ooJ obo,,ld nj 20 nt otr.a Juhnr