The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-09-26
How 10 Grow Strawberries.

Kew TO Grow Strawberries.
When it is known how easy it is to
get supply Of strawberries from .
Very small plot OF ground. it seems
strange that ell wEo have the ground
on which to plant them do not avail
themselves of the opportunity. Straw
berry plants if set out in August or
September august is preferablel will
give a crop next June providing the
plants used are what are termed plot
layerS-that is, plants that have been
grown in small plots plunged in the
ground for two or three weeks before
planting. Such plants have an abun-
dance of tbrous roots. and at once
start to grow without check on being
set out. These plants can be obtained
from nearly all the seedsmen or fruit
growers near our large cities, at cost
of from $40 to "A hundred. 1t is
safe to expect that each plant. If the
soil i. congenial and the cultivation has
been properly done. will vi Id one pint,
so that an estimate can easily he made
of the number required. Hardly any
fruit suffers more in transit TO market
than the strawberry. and those who
have been used to even the best market
will hard V recognize them u the same
fruit when gathered fresh from the
garden.
Strawberries are not at al particu-
lar rs 10 soil. 1t may | c sandy, gravelly.
or clsyey Loan. provided it is exposed
to the open sunshine without shade, and
that water will not stand on it. In
other words. it must be drained, natur-
ally or art ficiallv. But some varieties
o. berries do better in one soil than in
another. thorough culture requires
that the soil should be first du-, then
spread over with two or three inches of
rotted stable manure. which should be
spaded under, so far Is practicable, to
mix it with the soil. Ii stable manure
can not be had. commercial manure,
such as bone dust, etc., should be sown
on the dug ground thick enough nearly
to cover it, and then worked in with
fork, 20 that it is well-mi ell with the
soil 10 at least four inches in depth.
The plants should be set in beds
of six rows each, twelve inches apart,
and ten or twelve inches between the
beds for pathway. If the plants are
properly set out (care being taken TO
make firm the sol around the plants
by pressing it with the foot not one
plant in hundred that has been
grown in pots will fail to fruit next
season. Tor two or three weeks after
planting nothing need be done except
10 hoe the beds SO that all the weeds
are kept down. Be careful to do this
once a week; for if the weeds get
start, it will be double labor to keep
the g-ound Gear. In about a month
the plants will begin to throw out
strings or runners, all of which must
be pinched or cut of As they appear. SO
that by the end of the growing season
each plant will have formed bush one
foot or more in diameter, having the
necessary condition for next years
fruit. BY Christmas the entire beds of
plants should be covered
with straw, leaves. or anything similar.
to the depth of two or three inches. so
thst nothing is seen but The covering.
This mulching, as it is called. is neces-
sary to the best culture. as it protects
the plants from cold in winter, keeps
the fruit clean, and at the same time
saves nearly all labor after being once
put on. rs few weeds can push through
it. and if they do they are easily pulled
out by hand.
I he kinds of Strawberries now num-
Der many hundreds; some catalogue,
describe so many that it is Lewildering
to the amateur TO select. In rea' ~ our,
k,v,l oil that =,
cSsary for home culture, for in such a
number all STYLES of flavor and ap-
pea, ancc can be had. with q range of
ripening from earliest to latest. Atthe
New York Horticultural Society's en-
hibit:on in 1888 the kind most esteemed
was the Jersey queen. berry of i'm
mense size and great beauty; itisrather
a shy bearer. however. and Is not much
In our markets for this reason but for
home culture it is Indispensable. as il is
the latest of all strawberries. only get
ling fully ripe when the season of the
early varieties is past. Another kind
known rs the I.ongfellOw is of the dark
est shade of crimson, and alto yether
distinct from any other sort; it has a
peculiar flavor. and is highly orna-
for the table. The sharplcss. a
.ell-known variety, is of the largest
size. excellent in FAVOR, and rather
Early Bliwell is of medium size,
eery productive, and the earliest known.
Two new varieties. named the Hender-
son and the Prince of Ferries. were also
exhibited for the first time at the Horti-
cultural Society rooms. the former be-
me pronounced the most delicious in
Iiavor of all Strawberries, while the lat
Ter was especially noted for its beauti-
'ul coloring of Clio sy cr.mson.-N. Y.
Ecening Post.