The gale., 1888-03-10
Hints on strawberry cuitrre.


The covering which is put on the
strawberry bed in the fall, says james L.
Parmly, in the Nolo Yosh O5sercer, need
not be taken up until after the crop is
gathered. The mnlh keeps .d,Wa@s -4sSest
i iIstfy weeds, and those that do appear
through it may easily be pulled up. Rum
ners, also, do not have the same chance
to take root in such Il bed as they would
have in the open ground, and they can
therefore the more easily be pulled off.
After the mulch is removed in the sum-
mer it is we'll to hoe the bed thorough
ly and as deep, especially between the
rows. as possible. AS the season of bear
ing is quite short, the food of the plant
should be, SO to speak in pred ,gcsted"
state. For that reason it is well to do
the greaer part of plant feeding in
the fall, thlslgiv'ng the fertilizer good
opportunity to become IN oolporated with
the soil. This condition will be met if
stable manure with penty of hay or
straw is applied in the fall. The
fertilizing qualities of this mixture
will be washed into the
soil and Incorporated with it by
the time the plant begins to grow in the
spring; and the hay or straw will be left
perfectly clean and suitable for pro-
tecting the plant and ke ping the fruit
free from the soil. Care should hetaken
in the spring to free the crowns OF the
plants from contact with the mulch
Those who desire to apply commercial
fertilizers to the crop can do so by
spreading them before applying the
mulch. Another appli alton OF the
fertilizer can be nadc in the spring
when one is discn2aging the crowns OF
the plants from the mulch. | highly
recommend applying commercial or
concentrated fertilizers to Strawberries,
as the strawberry is hearty fec Ter and
needs forcing during its short period OF
bearing to give good results. Highly
nitrorenous Icrtili crs viii make berries
of very large size, but of poor i,avor and
too soft for sicccssfuinar eting. Some
complete fertilizer will answer the
purpose better. Those who live near
the sea, shore will find eel grass and the
yarions kinds of sea-wcc,l beneficial as u
mulch. These salt wa cr growths con-
tain valuable fertilizing qualities.
Home Made ManIvc the Best.
II properly IHuhiSVt, "iA'.' ~
Shepherd, in the Ivis ea'sia 1gricuttagast,
tho manure that eau be made and saved
upon the farm is undoubtedly the best
and iris easily possible for every farmer
to make it. And while at the same time
ii is the best it can also be made the
cheapest, because ii properly managed
all tho cost will DC the necessary hand
ling. hauling out and applying, and no
IL .,,sset kind Of festlizing we use
we will find i necessary to do this much.
while there are few fertilizers so COM
nlete or thar will show the effects so long
"a what can be made upon the farm. No
system of rotation, of using green crops
as manures, or of purchasing and using
commercial fertilizers will as completely
keep up the fertility as the making, saw
ing and applying of ali the manure pos
siblc. And if this could be more thor
oughly understood. and farmers would
make the proper effort to take advantage
Of it, there would be much less COM
plant OF the fertility detcriorating.
But if the largest amount is made it is
necessary to keep sufficient number of
stock upon the farm to consume profit
ably all that be raised or grown, to pro
vide shrds or stables, or feeding lots
where ,..e stock can he made comfort
able. d. sc,sng il this way, as much as
possible. Tie amount Of feed necessary to
keep each head of stock in good condi-