Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13
THE SMALL FRUITS.
ries-Raspberries-- Black berries


The reason why so few farmers can
grow sufficient supply of small fruit can
be found In two cause.-the purchase of
untrled novelties and neglect to give
proper cultivation. Nearly every farmer
L have ever met has at sometime bought
berry plants and taken care of them waile
the novelty lasted, and then given them
over to the weeds to be run out and dis
appear. Where there is some one whose
business it is to make and keep the gar
den clean, the cultivation of a small
strawberry patch Is simply an EDITION to
the work, being no more difficult than the
transplant1ng and hoeing of ordinary
vegetables, and really less bothersome
than the growing of celery, onions or car
rots, as the plants when planted are large
and slightly and ready for immediate hoe
ing. When the size of the plantation is
unduly increased so as to require help
much beyond the ordinary garden work,
then the period of neglect is sure to come
sooner or later, and the strawberry patch
becomes mess of weeds. Whether the
runners are clipped or not, there is, after
the Fourth of July, constant watchful-
ness necessary, and a large amount of
work to keep them CLEAN. Where a per-
son is situated like Mr.. Terry, and makes
heir cultivation pastime and amuse-
ment, visiting it every day, sometimes
several times day, and jealousy watch
ing the appearance of every weed, the
labor is not felt nor, 1 fear, reckoned at
it's full value.
10 the ordinary farmer the period from
the 1st of July to the 1st of October is a
busy one, aud during this period most
strawberry patches get the better of their
owners, and if the autumn is wet, 90 into
the winter with goodly sprinkl1ng of
dock, sorrel and white clover plants. which
improves every bit of open weather to
strengthen the position and enlarge their
bodies. The removal of these and other
pernnial weeds should be the very first
work of spring. If the runners have
been allowed to cover the ground it will
be tedious job, and the owners will in
nine cases out of ten, give il up, with the
idea of not getting caugh5 so again. This
is poor policy whether viewed as mat
ter of discipline or profit, for weeds
make wonderful growth between the
opening of spring and the ripening of
fruits, and the fiat unpretending little
tufts of sorrel put forth an energy won
derful to see and quite discouraging when
the results OF all this is compared with
the luscious berries half smothered and
stunted and wholly hid underneath.
1t is commonly stated as an axiom in
strawberry culture that it is cheaper to
set new plantation than to clean out an
old one, but / am satisfied that if careful
attention is given to them before bearing
that the difference in flavor of the new
plantation is not marked. The risk OF
starting new plantation is considerable
saying nothing about the fact that many
varieties do not do their best the first
year. In all matted row culture spring
cultivation must be continH ed to the use
of the hoe, and special lookout must be
kept for small tuft Of the perennial grass
es, such as bluegrass, redtop, etc. In rich
ground slckly looking tuft of redtop as
big as the finger in March will often Gov
er foot square, by the middle of July.
Even in apparently clean plantation
plants of white clover and other peren-
malls will be found Nesting close under
the strawberry plants, lying low and abid-
ing their time. Where considerable weed
ing is done in the spring and ground
laid bare, some sort of mulching will be
necessary. Half-rotten short straw is
the best, or where power cutter is avail
able, fresh straw cut into four inches
IN length Is cleaner and better. If the
mulchlng is deferred until grass is foot
high, this can be moved and apple in
green state, and makes a soft, delightful
mulch but the blossoms and just-setting
fruit at this period made it a tedious
careful job. Sawdust is no better than
sand, as 1t adheres to the fruit.