The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-12-08
StrawberryI lalture in Florida.

Strawberry 4nlture in Florida.
The premium artjp s1riten for a prize offered by
the Editor Of n i9Hierda -AgFicaSlturist for the
best essay on h flroerTy Culture." By Il. III.
MapvilIe, Of Lap Forge, Fla. '
While MOI Re is indispensable to
TO the strawlgNMy plant, it does not
thrive best oI pw, wet, heavy laads.
The soil mt be porous, .riable
anu well draI 1t is useless to at.
tempt to- rai&n straw berries on land |
that is liabl$to become saturated
with water. I'm the latter part of
August or thHi ilrst OF September the
land intende3 for berries should be
broken. with he plow, thoroughly
mellowed, anR leyeled with the har
row. For Il @ extended operations
spade and RAN will answer the pur>
pose. As th4strawberry is gross
feeder the sol should be made very
rich. Decombosed animal or veget-
able manure, pr compost of these
substances With muck for basis,
should be aIundantly applied. OF
commercial Fertilizers Mapes and
Stockbridge manure produce good
results. On dbe sandy lands OF this
State fertilizets should not be plowed
in, but spread upon the surface and
harrowed in.1 Owing to the long,
| hot summer, aud TO the tact that the
plants are f1uited the first season,
they REQUIRE Iresetting every year.
By carefue tueatment the old roots
can be saved And transplanted, but it
pays better tolset out annually young
plants from the previous seasons
runners. When the plants are scarce,
and the vines seem dying from the
summer heat, they can be taken up
aud set in box Of moist, rich earth,
in cool, shady place; they will form
new roots, even If the old ones are
dead, and viii make hue plants for
tail setting. Set out the plants in a
cool, moist time after the heat of the
summer is pakt, say in the latter part
of September kor during October or
NoveiB.ber IN rows should be two
teas-ss..S 80 re seeds I0Hfd be SOW sow
....< 'plasaassbsa g salls x - wn in box
slla ~ ge eap sttlaSEa
IN I e III IF hg open narrow
hole with the trowel and spread out
the roots in tan shape, as they serve
merely to hold tht plant in position
until new roots are formed. Set the
plant deep taking care not to cover
the bud with earth. Water the plants
with water or liquid manure immedi-
ately after the setting in the holes,
to settle the earth about the roots :;
cover with dry earth to prevent evap-
Grafton. Where the plants are near
at hand they can be transplan;ed
without disturbing the earth upon the
roots. Cultivate the soil frequently,
but not deep enough to disturb the
roots; this should be done at least
once week, twice week would be
better. Liquid manure should also
be applied once or twice a week.
Soluble animal manure, as COW
manure, poultry manure, ETC., dis
solved in water make good fertilizers;
about one pint OF the dilute mixture
should be given TO each plant. After
the fruit sets this will injure the
berries, but it will not do to suspend
the application of liquid manure
something else must be substituted
the following is recommended by an
extensive grower, viz:
16 pounds superphosphate.
Spounds Muriate of potash.
4pounds nitrate of soda.
Dissolved in 100 gallons of water.
If cut worms attack the young plants
they must be destroyed as upon cab
bages, and other vegetables. Sta.
BILE manure often harbors these pests, |
and on this account its use should be |
avoided when possible. Keep off
the worm. until the plants are done
truiting. Mulch when the berries
begin to form in the spring. This
should be delayed as long as posi-
BILE, for if done too early it retards
fruit bearing. Any kind of straw,
dried grass, and even moss, will do
tor mulchlng; pine straw is perhaps
the best. The Seeding originated
by Mr.. Evans of Federal Point, and
variously known as the Evans Seed
ling, Florida Seeding, Federal Point
Berry, etc, is the variety best adap-
ted to this section; the plants are
see general observation on preparation of
soil, fertilization, and mode of culture in the
writers essay on Market Gardening, . they are
equally applicable here. ]