News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-09-06

Is it not strange that this delight
ful berry is not more generally cult
waited 10y all farmers? Indeed, we
cannot see any good reason why any
one, who has land enough for good
garden, does not set off a piece for
Strawberries. They are of extremely
easy cultivation, and no plant that can
be raised iii garden or field affords
more abundant returns. There are
few who do not enjoy eating them,
even where they have to take up with
the road beaten ones that have been
iOlted over hundreds of miles of
travel. If you have eaten no others.
you do not know the true delicious
ness of the berry. Good taste and
health, alike demand that Strawberries
come fresh from the garden or field,
unbuised, and yet perfectly ripened.
If YOU have been accustomed to the
use Of the perfect and unbruised ber-
~ in all its luscious richness, you will
have the best of all motives for the
cultivation Of a bed for yourself. For
single family square rod of ground
may suffice. Let the ground be in
good condition, not too wet nor too
dry; and this August procure your
plants and set them for another year.
/ on need not seek 10y varieties.
Procure the Green Prolific and
Charles Downing and set them in al
ternate rows, two feet apart, the
plants being one foot apart in the
rows. Or procure the Crescent and
Sharpless and use them in the same
way. The SharpIess will do admira-
bly,, as will, also, the Charles Down
ing. If you have plenty Of ground,
You may easily add to your income by
raising more than enough for your
own table. If you have room and
mean to make 4 business Of raising
Strawberries for market, select good
spot, larger or smaller, according to
your purpose, generally following
some hOed crop that You have wCll
manfred. Ii will be well to pillow in
good coat of manure. Work the
soil fine with a harrow, and lay off
with 4 marker into rows four feet
apart. These rows you can set with
any of the perfect lowered plants in
the market, like the Charles Down
ing or Sharpless, or many others. 1t
is well known, however, by the ini-
tiated, that much Of the best fruit is
raised from pistiijate, or imperfect
flowers, which will not produce per
feet fruit alone. If, for example, YOU
set in one row the Crescent, Manches-
ter or Green Prolific, which are pistil-
late, you must in the next row set
some good, perfect, or staminate va
liety. Let the plants be set, if prac-
ticable, i'll the month Of August, or in
the early spring, fifteen inches apart
in the rows, which you have already
marked four feet asundcr. When
you have set the plants, take care Of
them all the spring, summer and
fall hoe them, running the cultivatOr
between the rows. Keep down the
weeds; make the ground mellow; al
low the plants to spread along the
rows, but not to cross the track Of
the cultivator till after the third year.
If in spreading, the plants are com
ing too much crowded, thin them out
to sell or set a new bed. After three
years, rs general rule, it will be best
to break up and -rU-.1anurc the Old
beds. If you wish to put first class
berries upon the market, plant Il new
Bed every year. You need not be at
a loss to find good varieties to set;
they are numerous, and all large deal
ers hold them in abundance.