The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-04-20
cuLrlyAr1NG srRAwDEnlEs.
How tho,GrOund should DO Prepared for the
Plants.

How oGround Should DO prepared ZOE the
PAaq. Record,
A small plot will give large yield Of
berries if the vines are properly treated
the first year, hence no crop should be OK
pected during the year the young plants
arc set out. The ground should be plowed
deeply and narrowed several times until
tho soil is as fine as It can be made, This
is very essential, as the preparation Of the
soil Is the most important matter, the
growth and future productiycncss Of the
vines depending on an early start. The
young plants should be setoptiust as soon
as the frost is out OF the ground, SO as to
dive them rs much time as possible for
growth before the dry season comes on,
and as strawberries are very partial TO
moisture, they also get the benefit OF the
early rains, In setting out plants spread
the roots and give them plenty OF room,
putting them in openings made with q
dibhle, and pressing the soil closely and
firmly TO the plants.
Plenty OF stable manure should be used
ON strawberries, but it is best to apply it
in the fall. They will, however, need
manure in the spring; but few handfuls
Of good, rich, well.rotted compost, assisted
by tablespoonful OF superphosphate, will
give them a vigorousgrowth till fall, when
the manure should be well and evenly
spread thiCklyover the plants and on both
sides OF therow. This should be done as
late In the season as possible, in order that
the manure may serve Us o winter mulch,
and also to allow the frost TO operate upon
it, thereby Fastening its decomposition,
and renderingit more soluble when turned
under in the spring. The plants should
be placed in rows, the rows wide enough
TO admit Of cultivation, with the plants
ono foot apart in the rows. Many per-
sons place them closer, but better results
can be obtained by allowingplenty ofroom.
Pick OF every blossom that appears aud
do not allow a single runner to make
growth. Tie plants will then grow, and
store up mater, which will give abundant
fruit the second year, but no grass or
weeds must be allowed to grow between
the rows or around the plants, as the bed
must be kept scrupulously clean. In re-
ulOHluH EIIt Ihult4lNl IuAlu4C ia LlG 9pAhk
it is best to chop It into the soil with the
hoe, but not deeply, only enough to clear
the vines and mix the manure with the
top soil. Alter the ground has been thus
treated, q litter OF cut straw around the
plants, held in place by cornstalks on both
sides Of the row, will assistin the preyen-
ton OF grass, as well as serving as q SUM
mer mulch and keeping the berries clean,
After the fruit has been taken of, work
the ground clean and keep itso. Apply
broadcast, for an acre, o mixture Of 400
pounds snperphosphate and 800 pounds
muriate OF potash, late in the fall, and
mulch with straw, hay, leaves or what
over will answer. The next season use
manure again. Bythus continually keep
ing off the runners and alternating with
fertilizers and manure, the plants will last
for 1--we years, and in favorable seasons the
Yields will be very large. As to the varie-
ties, the Wilson holds It's own for market,
while the Sharpless Is usually preferred
for home use. No variety, however, will
give satisfaction unless well cultivated
and the runners prevented from growing.
Mulching in winter Is not absolutely
essential in this section, but 1t is best, a
the benefits derived from a mulch will
more than repay the cost Of its applica-
ton. Should the grass got 9 ioothold the