Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-04-02
For the Ellsworth Americana
How to Grow Strawberries in the Home
Garden.
SECOND PAPER.


preface this subject in this paper
by the following quotation: ''Ot all
the fruits which bounteOus nature has
provided for the use of man, none, We
think, contains so many charms as the
strawberry, none so nearly fills the
requirements of a universal favorite.
Coming at time of the year when the
human appetite is in its most caprlcious
state, when the long months Of absence
of nearly all fresh fruit have created a
peculiar craving for it, the strawberry
fills Il want which but for it would of
necessity remain unsatisfied. 1t is to
fruit what the rose is to the flowers !;
not SO conspicuous, not so hard to
grow, but still the queen. No branch
of horticulture offers greater induce
ments than Strawberries Thriving
more or less on any soil, in any place.
from Newfoundland to California, it
still repays high culture as well as any
fruit grown in this latitude. Sure to
grow, almost equally sure to sell at
paving prices. eXhausting neither to
the land nor tile grower, but leaving
both richer than it found them this
fruit offers 10 those who raise it en-
ploymeut at once pleasant. easy. re-
timing and profitable. and an oppor-
tunitv for doing good by giving work
to many a child and woman, and by
sending health and happiness wherever
they send their berries
Cuttiuation. 1T is we'll to let the
plants and ground alone for week or
ten days after the plants have been set
out Al the end of that time The ground
will need to be stirred, very shallow
about the plants, but deeper between
the rows. The best implement know
of for that purpose where the patch is
small. is a sharp-bladed hoe. This
hoeing should be done often. at least
after every heavy rain. 1t is beneficial
IN three ways: first. it allows the air to
easily penetrate to the roots Of the
plant. which have found ID the coarse
Of my experiments to he very essential
second, it keeps the soil mere OF AN
even temperature and moisture third.
IT keeps the ground clean from all
Sigus OF weeds. and weeds like evil
passions and habits are best DESTROYED
before they show any signs Of gro"lh.
On the Who'll, it is wonderful - tar be
You'd tie comprehension OF those who
have not fully tested it-what n great
fertilizer is a mixture OF elbow grease
and hoe blades properly applied.
Keep all runners cut until August
first, then let them grow and form
matted row one wav. one foot in width,
but do not let too many take root ; the
plants should not stand nearer. on an
average, than four ,cAcs apart. Con-
tlnuc to cultivate between rows and cut
All surplus runncr. till antumn
HJbtp- Pr~.rtioD There are very
few strawberries that will stand our
winters without some kind OF protec-
ton. The Crescent and Bart are said
To he the most hardy, II SNOW would
come on a. soon As the ground is
frozen and remain unti all freezing is
over. it would he perfect protection
bat rs thai cannot ne depended upon,
tnrN Should nave light covering Of
some coarse material such as ever
green boughs. straw, salt hay, moss or
scrapings from burnt land But be
careful not 70 covcT too early Or put On
too much. The ground should he
frozen several mche, deep, aud only
Just enough covering 70 we'll, shade the
plants, 50 that tie frost Mil not come
ont of the ground till after all freezing
IS over 10 the spring.
IL my fir~t article on til, subject the
amount Of phosphate 20 be used to
square rod. was gwen 200 los, it
should have been 100 lbs. II the
ground is in good heart much less
quantity of either fertilizer will give
the very best results.
March 20 +. W. W.