The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-12-30
THE CLARION.
MISUNDERSTANDING aud Culture.


In the former article (see Prairie
Farmer Of Oct 30) / gave directions
for fitting and laying out the ground.
The rows being three and half or four
feet apart, and the plants one to two
feet apart, spread out the roots in plant
ing, and let the crown of the plant be
but very little below the surface. After
putting a little fine earth over and
among the roots, pour in from a pint TO
a quart Cor more if the soil is dry Of
water, and after this has settled fill up
with fine earth without pressing it
down.
Keep the ground entirely free from
weeds throughout the season, remem-
boring that you are doing all the hoelng
necessary for three or four years in one,
and do not neglect it. Run the shovel
pillow, or cultivator, as often as once In
ten DAYS, between the rows, through
the season, gradually narrowing the
space between the rows as the plants
extend until the ground Is equally divi-
ded between the matted rows Of plants
and the open spaces. In hOeing it Is an
easy matter to distribute the runners
along the rows and press down the
forming plants with the foot or thumb
and finger 50 they will be quite evenly
distributed.
In late autumn, or early in Deem
Der, as soon as the ground is slightly
frozen. cover the vines with slough
grass, corn stalks, straw, or-which Is
best Of all-manure from the horse sta
BILE, if prairie hay only has been fed.
The mulch should be very evenly scat
tered over the vines, nearly covering
them from sight. In early spring rake
~oH the coarse parts Of the much between
the rows, where it may remain till after
the fruit is gathered. If it is then too
coarse to admit Of blowing the spaces
with shovel-plow, the coarsest portion
NAV be run over with a fork. After
picking, if weeds come up among the
vines they should be moved off, just at
the top Of the strawberry leaves, to pre-
vent the ripeniug Of the seeds, and this
should be repeated once or twice later
in the season, letting the weeds remain.
The spaces should be kept open and in
good filth through the season with the
pillow and cultivator. Repeat this for
three or four (perhaps more) years.
This is all that is necessary to insure
good crops Of strawberries seven years
out of eight and ! can assure the farm
er reader who has had no experience,
that by following these plain directions
be will rival in his success the profess
sional fruit growers, and have an abun-
dant supply Of this delicious fruit from
the same ground for several years and at
cost not more than double the average
cost of an equal number of bushels of
-44a+a+aes Lie ladies' aud children of
the household will gladly do the pick
ing if the father, husband, or brother
will do his part.
A word to the ladies You know
how much more delicious strawberries
are fresh from the vines than those stale
berries YOU usually find i'll the market;
and if YOU will clip out or otherwise pre-
serve these directions, and urge the
''Lords Of the Manor" to do their part
when the season arrives, nine chances
in ten you will next year have such
dishes Of Strawberries smothered in
cream" as will gladden. your hearts, and
be eft to set before" these "kings" of
the farm.
If the soil was not prepared in au-
tumn it may be done in spring, as soon
as dry enough to pulverize nicely.
My practice with old plantations has
been for many years as folloms Imme-
diately after the first or second plowings
which follow harvesting the crop, [
harrow the entire ground thoroughly,
so as to pulverize the clods and level
the surface No matter if one-fourth
to one-third the vines are rooted out,
and the remainder look ''sadly democrat
izad" in consequence they will soon re-
cover crop be all the better for the
severe scaritying. a sprinkling Of we'll
rotted manure or superphosphate-and
if little salt and ashes are mixed with
it so much the better-applied once a
year, or once in two years, will pay fifty
per cent. upon the investment; though,
if the ground was thoroughly enriched
when prepared for the plants, such APP
plication is not essential for the produc-
tion ola good crop, and is not needed
where horse-stabe litter is used as
mulch. o. b. GALUsHA.
Morris Illinois,