The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-22
Summer Strawberry Cultivation.

Philadelphia record.
Now that fruiting time is over, special
attention should be given the strawberry plants
during the remainder of the growing season.
The strawberry propagates both from seeds and
runners, and when confined to either method
alonel 1t puts forth extra energy in order to az
complish its objec: in that direction. For in
stance, if every blossom be pinched off in the
spring, before the plants can fruit they will push
out the runners early and endeavor to repro
| duce themselves. But if the runners are kept
back the plant will be compelled to store ND its
supply of material for reproduction, and put
| forth its energy the following spring. Thus in
order to obtain rye yield of fruit, the young
| plants must ~ allowed to blossom or send
| forth runner hey will then continue to
grow, and Wi Id an abundance of fruit toe
following seas~I
1t is too late in the season to try experiments
in that direction with young plants, as it is the
old beds that must now be cared for, though
new beds may be successfully made in the fall
What should now be done is to keep back the
runners the old vines. A few rows may ba
left to themselves from which to derive new
plants desired, but the plants for next years
crop should be kept clean. The usual custom
of allowing tho beds to mat together though
often giving large yields, do not produce tia
largest berries ard as size is as important IN a
market berry as flavor this should not be over
looked. Each plant should have sufficient room
to itself for making large growth Around the
plants a good dressing of well-rotted manure
should be applied, and this may be chopped IN
with advantage by the use Of the hoe. If the
manure IS plentiful it may be broadcast between
the rows also. AS soon as the crop has been
picked the grass and weeds should be cleaned
out of the bed and the manure applied
and worked in, being taken that
the ground is occupied by nothing bas
the plants. Later in the season
the grass and seeds will again show themselves.
when the cultivator and hoe may both 10
used, After so working, the bed manure should
be scattered thekly around each plant again,
and remain on the surface a protection during
winter. IT desired a mulch of leaves, straw, and
cornstalks will be found advantageous as a fur
Their covering during winter. Early ths
following spring rake the bed over we'll but do
not disturb the roots and remove the old mulch
A few handfuls of clean sand or chopped straw
may be placed around each plant, in order 10
prevent the fruit from becoming soiled with
earth.
Strawberry plants thus cared for will produce
double the number of berries next season, and
of much larger size than if the plants are al
lowed to grow and run into mats The labor OF
cultivation is not great while the with
which the next crop may be picked will nore
than compensate for it, to say nothing of the
largely-increased profit that will be derived IL
manure is not plentiful, mix two bags of suuer-
phosphate, 100 pounds sulphate of ammonia aud
100 pounds kainit with twenty bushels of mari
or dry earth, and place a portion around each
hill, broadcasting the remainder. If one half of
the fertilizer be applied now and the remainder
early in the spring it will produce better results