Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-09-05
AGRICULTURAL.

STRAWBERRY CULTURE IN NEW ENGLAND.
1t is a shame that New England pays 81
much money yearly for Southern straw
berries. She is excusable for looking
South for her first fruits, but after the
strawberry season has once commenced
here, We may as well keep our money at
home as to pay it out to Vineland cult
vators Just as good berries can be
obtained from Virginia or New Jersey,
and much better in one respect, inasmuch
as they are fresh. not peppered with dust
or mashed by long journey. The
amount of strawberries imported into
New England is almost incredible. They
are so delicious and come So early in the
season that every body indulges in this
fruit, and the strawberry bill in many
families is larger than the butchers and
bakers combined We do not object to
the use of the berries, as they are very
healthy as well as luscious, but every
owner OF few rods of land should raise
his own, and the owner of an acre should
raise enough for himself and his landless
neighbors. Ii the neighbor is n wise
man he will much prefer the home-raised
to the imported article.
Farmers should cultivate this berry
Many regard the cultivation of all small
fruit as beneath their notice, but nothing
is unworthy Of attention which contrib
utcs to the comfort and health of the
family. The old-style New England far
mers were brought up with the idea that
all berries grow without cultivation, and
So they do. All fruits were once wild
and uncultivated. The luscious pear
was once wild fruit, hard, sour, and
puckery, unfit to be eaten, except when
cooked. Cultivation has given lis the
Bartlett, the Sheldon, the Seckel, and
host of other varieties, all fit for the table
of n king. The smaller fruits are more
palatable in their wild state, hut whoever
has dishes of Sharpless and wild straw
berries set before HIM, and chooses the
latter, does moi answer solomon 5 descrp
ton of the wise man, for he is described
as having eyes i'll his head. True, the
wild berry has an exquisite flavor seldom
surpassed by the cultivated, but 1t Is so
small and is apt to he SO mashed Ill hull |
ing, that 1t does not commend itself to |
the consumer. Then again the farmer |
who depends upon field strawberries for |
the GSe of his family. in nine cases ont of
ten, goes without them. There is SD
much labor in picking them, and so much |
more III hullmg, that they are seldom seen
ON the table Of the farmer, even though |
they may grow by the score of bushels III !
his fields. 1t is better economy to cultl- /
vate them IN the garden, for there Is real |
ly less work in this than in picking them /
IN the field, when the consumption Is |
large The truth is. the farmer who de
pends upon his fields for his Strawberries
gets possibly two on three dishes of them
III year, but he who cultyates them
Will find them on his table every day dur
ing the strawberry season.
There is an impression among farmers
that the cultivation o. this berry involves
much labor, and it must be acknowledged
that they do not grow III perfection with
out deep rich soil, some care Ill keeping
them free of weeds and runners, and
renewing of the bed once III two or three
years, but it is labor which pays. Moth
ing good is secured without labor. A
straw berry patch sufficient for All ordina-
ry family is very small affair, for the
vines are immensely prolific, and most Of
the work can be done by women and
children. Two rods square well tended
will furnish family Of six with all they
want to eat and leave a margin for the
supply of a sick neighbor and an occa-
sional guest
August is the month for starting
strawberry bed for another years supply,
and We hope every reader of the PloHgh
man who owns land, though it be but
small patch, will improve these days to
provide the cheapest and at the same time
most delicious and healthful luxury for
his family Ii potted plants are used
for starting the bed, land they are the
surest to succeed-they will furnish
good crop for the next year Plant III
rows three feet apart and mulch with ,
leaves as the season is dry. Leaves also !
mako the best Of winter protection. and .
i'll the spring they can be dug III and
made to furnish the best fertilizing ma .
terial. Select deep, strong soil. and two !
or three varieties of plants ripening at
different periods and in due season you |
will reap your reward-Nass. P'ough- {
man. I