Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-08-26
Raising Strawberries.

My first advice in regard to strawber+
ries is to set them out Immediately, all
most anywhere, except upon land so re-
Gently in grass that the sod is still unde'
cayed. This course is better than not to
have the fruit at all, or to wait for 1t.
A year without strawberries is lost
year in one serious respect. While there
is wide difference between what plants
can do under unfavoIable conditions,
and what they can be made to do when
their needs are fully met, they will
probably in any event yield a fair supply
of delicious fruit. Secure this as soon
as possible. At the same time remember
that plant of good variety is genius
capable of wonderful development. In
ordinary circumstances it is like the
mute, inglerious poets" whose enforced
limitations were lamented by the poet
Gray but when it's innate powers and
gifts are fully nourished 1t expands into
surprising proportions, sends up hundreds
of flowers, which are followed by ruby
gems of fruit whose exquisite favor is
only surpassed by its beauty. No such
concentrated ambrosia ever graced the
feasts of the Olympian gods, for they
were restricted to the humble Fragaria
vesca, or Alpine species. In discovering
the New World Columbus also discoverd
the true strawberry, and died without
the knowledge of this result of his
achievement.
can imagine the expression on the
faces of these who buy the "sour, crude,
half-ripe Wilson's against which the
poet Bryant inveighed 80 justly. The
market is flooded with this fruit, because
it bears transportation about as well as
marbles. Yes, they are strawberries;
ehoke-pears and Seckles belong to the
same species. There is truth enough in
my exaggeration to warrant the assertion
that if we would enjoy the possible
strawberry we must raise it ourselves,
and pick it when fully matured-ready
for the table and not for market. Then
any mans garden can furnish something
better than was found in Eden.
Having started a strawberry patch
without loss of time wherever it was
handiest, we can now give our attention
to the formation of an ideal bed. In
this instance we must shun the shade
trees above and their roots beneath. The
land should be open to the sky. and the
sun free to practice his alchemy on the
fruit the greater part of the day. The
most favorable soil is a sandy loan,
verging toward clay, and it should have
been under cultivation sufficiently long
to destroy all roots of grass and perennial
weeds. Put on the fertilizer with free
hand. If 1t is barnyard manure,the rate
of sixty tons to the acre is not in excess.
A strawberry plant has large appetite
and excellent digestion. 1t prefers deci-
dedly manure from the COW stable, but
that from the horse stable answers very
we'll, but it is not advisable to incorpo-
rate it with the soil in its raw, unfer>
mented state, and then to plant immedit
ately. The ground can scarcely be too
rich for Strawberries, but it can easily be
overheated and stimulated. In fertiliz-
ing ever keep in mind the two great
requisites, moisture and GOODNESS. Ma
nure from the horse stable, therefore,
is about doubled in value as we'll as bulk
if composted with leaves, muck, or sods,
and allowed to decay before being used.
Next to enriching the soil the most
important step is to deepen 1t. If a
plough is used, sink it to the beam, run
it twice in furrow. If a lifting sub
soil plough can follow, all the better.
Strawberry roots have been traced two
feet below the surface.
If the location of the plot does not ad-
NIT the use of plough, let the gardener
begin at one side and trench the area to
at least 1S inches deep, taking pains to
mix the surface, sIbsoil, and fertilizer
evenly and thoroughly. A small plot
thus treated will yield as much as one
three or four times as large. One OF the
chief advantages of thus deepening the
soil is that the plants are insured against
their worst enemy-drought. How often