The Springdale news., 1889-03-08
Straw berry Culture.

'Cit3 lbi tAAt 1AAi'b ' preparation of ground and market
 In selecting q location, tho first thing to be looked at, is that there is rcfnunerative market within reach, and that pickers can be ob- tained. If, upon thls score you are satisfied, you should take birds eye view of the country around you, and select, if possible, land having both northern ana south crn exposure, with soil suitable to the growth of the straw berry. The best soil for this purpose is a deep, mellow ioam, with sand enough in it's composition to work freely. The next best is clay, If not too stiff and cold. Land of this kind should have good drainage. The poorest is sandy land with a gravelly sub-soil.
 Great advantage is gained by having both northern and south ern Exposure. The land sloping toward the south with warm and quick soil affords vegetation the advantage in nature which other lands differently located cannot have. Assistance can also be given by proper drainage, fertilizers, such as ashes, lime, and guano or bone dust, and deep, thorough culture. The object of having different ex- posures and difference in qHickness of soil is to prolong the strawberry season. Upon the southern slope early varieties can be grown and placed on the market from one week 10 ten days before tire ordina. ry crop will be ready for shipment. By using the northern slope for late varieties the first will come in after the nam crop k gone; thus a glutted market is avoided and bet ter prices realized than less tortu- nate or less skillful competitors in the same line.
 Before planting the land should be well drained, well cultivated and freed from grass and noxious weed, and as much manure as pos sible wo! ked into it, always giving preference to those rich in potash.
 The proper tune for planting is iu early spung, just as soon as the ground will do to work. Plants from distance will cary better and grow more surely in the cool, moist weather of the early sprinetlme than later in the year. Strawber- ries may be planted later in the season, or even in the fall, but as rule the earllcr plants are set in the springtime the better are the re suits.
 Having your ground all ready, prepare your plants by straighten ing the roots and removing all the dead leaves and runners, place the plants for each days setting in tubs with water covering the roots. and make each person while setting keep his or her plants in pail with like root protection, not taking out plant until ready to place it into the ground. A dibble CT garden trowl is the best tool to make an opening in the ground to receive the plant, if this tool be plunged in to the ground with the back ot the blade next te him, and then drawn forward enough to admit the roots O. the plant which have been spread out into fan shape, and the earth carefully and firmly packed around the plant so as to protect all the roots, yet leaving the crown ex- posed, ninety-nine per cent. of all good plants will grow. Marx, the important things to be observed are, keeping the plant roots wet while out of the ground, spreading them while setting, covering just right and carefully packing the earth around the plant. By mak ing direct stroke with the trowel and straight side to the cavity tor the plant, tEe earth upon that side is left moist and the roots beng brought into contact with moisture grow readily in a dry time, Plants should be set on level with the surface, and not ill a hollow to be covered with the mud by the next rain or upon a rldge to wither with succeeding drouth. Take pains in setting plants; upon care in this, much of future success depends. Remembe that one plant that lives is worth thousa nd that perish.
 Straw berry growers have several methods ofculture. We will notice,