Ellsworth American., 1883-07-26
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Growing Strawberries.

We set our strawberry plants in Sep
tember, or if we happen to have good wet
time. the last Of August. We prefer Sep
tcm5er. a. then the nights are general
IL cooler and We find the plants are not
pIt back so much as during the hot and
dry weather of August. We always plant
them on ground from which We have al
ready taken some early-hoed crop. and
tins was or ought 10 have been manured
for the early crop. Before planting the
straw berries the land is well plowed and
thoroughly narrowed and will then be
perfectly smooth and fine. We then get
stakes, having our lines 500 feet long, or
the length We intended to have our patch,
and drive our stakes and stretch the line
perfectly straight. Under it VT plant good
thrifty plants about one foot apart. After
one row is planted We move our stakes and
line exactly three feet. and plant another
row the same as the first. Thus We have
our rows three feet apart and the plants one
foot apart IN the rows.
In about one week after planting, the
plants have got hold and commenced grow
Ing. We start the cultlyator and cultivate
them as often as every ten days. The rows
being perfectly straight We are enabled TO
60 very close to the plants and almost
wholly to dispense with the use of hand
hoes The runners. as fast they start
are pinched or pulled of, saving this
much strength for the Old plant. which
will form a large stool, always bearing in
mind that one good large plant is worth
many small ones. and viii not only bear
more but better fruit We keep up our
cultivating and pulling off Of runners un-
Ill the ground commences To freeze. Then
we give the plants and whole ground a
heavy mulching Of stalks. straw, or some
coarse litter which is not so much TO pre-
vent their freezing TO prevent the con-
stant freezing and thawing if We happen 10
have an open winter, which is very hurttul
T. the fruit buds. If YOU use enough mulch
ing 10 prevent the weeds starting in the
spring. very well; otherwise it should then
be removed and the ground lightly cultivated
and Kept free from weeds until the fruit is
well set. The mulching can then be put
back again and will keep the ground moist
and the fruit clean, two very important es-
sentias. Ii will then be seen 10 be very
simple matter 10 grow straw berries by this
method
Here you have in a nutshell the method
BY which We have been enabled to grow,
pick and market more bu shells Of straw
bslrles than any other individual or firm
in this State so far as we know this sea-
son, and We have had among our competi-
tors those who claim to have 80 TO 80
acres Of berries, while we have all told
less than FIVE acres of land and that is not
all in strawberries. Our best three
fourths of an acre yielded us this year.
from plants set in September, over 81 900
worth Of fruit. Many there are who will
think this great yield or great story.
Mr.. Alcott SAYS We know just what We are
about. As to whether We do or not, We
viii not say. but We do know TO penny
what our berries brought Us.
Now, as ii is such simple matter to
grow strawberries, is it not a wonder that
every farmer and every one else who has a
garden, does not get one or two hu ndred
plants Of some choice variety and grow at
least several bushels of berries for their
own use? Several bushels may seem a
large amount for single familys consump-
ton yet few know how many berries a
family will use if they have them in
plenty Of their own raising, and fresh from
the vines.-F. l.. Sage x Son. in n. B. Hus-
Jandman.