The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-09
strawberries in Marrow Beds.

Strawberries IN narrow Bed5.
Where Strawberries are grown only on a
small scale, as In the home gardens, the mar
row bed plan is much the best. we think, as
it involves the intensive system of culture
in the highest degree, giving the largest
possible yields to the given area. The soil
is deeply broken with spading fork Tor pillow
and subsoilerl and the beds laid or three
and half to four feet wide and as long as
desired.
If there are several short beds the dis
lance between them should be two or TWO
and a half feet, allowing this much space
for a walk. though it may be dispensed
with, we have found it advantageous to
inclose these beds with four or six-inch
plank set on edge and KEEP in place by stubs
driven in deeply, and alternating first on
one side and then on the other. This border
Of plank, extending several inches above the
level of the soil, is great help in preserv-
ing to the plants the moisture that may tall
on the beds through the rains OF an arti-
fetal supply Of it in many. ways. In our
climate drought Is so common about the
Towering aud bearing season of Strawberries
that it Is wise to make all due provision for
the variety may be ond however good the
previous care and preparation of the soil
mas been, If drought Is allowed to work its
evil influence just prior to and during the
bearing season an abundant crop of large,
well-favored berries cannot be 5tained
There must be free supply Of moisture,
then, if the plants would do as we'll as they
should.
Where irrigation is not practicable other
he rpG0rfAd n To a
ply OF moisture during the fruitiug season.
BY having plank border extending several
inches above the surface of the soil al the
water that falls on the beds, even il it
comes from a short, heavy shower, can be
confined to the beds and much larger re-
serve of moisture secured to the SOIL than
where it is permitted to run off from the
beds
NoN supplemented with proper mulch
ing OF pine straw it is quite practicable I'M
der any ordinary conditions to keep a very
fair supply of moisture for the plants dur
ing the important period of Towering and
frulting.
In the small home garden If the bed or
beds are located as near the we'll as possible
II W Il be- very easy to give them o water
ing or two IL much dry weather should pre-
vail about the time the blooms begin to ap-
pear. One good watering gees long ways
on beds SO constructed and mulched.
Where there are number of beds side
by side If the two or two and a half feet
walks between are dug out to the depth of
two feel, or even one, and then filled nearly to
the top with refuse vegetable matter-pine
straw, leaves and the llke,it will be found "a
helpful auxiliary in conserving moisture to
the several beds. II this is done shortly
after the January rains, and the beds them
selves are properly mulched a few weeks
before the plants begin to bloom it will be
found TO have very great influence i'll
moderating the temperature of the soil and
subs1ll later on in April. That cool, moist
condition Of soil, so favorable to strawberry
production las indicated by their luxuriant
growth On all well-drained bottomSl, is oh
tanned through this method of procedure,
which involves ooly alittle labor. at time
too when work is not very pressing. We
have seen beds OF straw berries so tended
present the Appearance from distance of Il
mass Of red flannel when other plats not so
treated bore but very few berries. This
method gives to dry uplands almost all the
characteristics of bottom land, and renders
strawberry growing literally "a thing Of
beauty and a JOY forever"
Where the Deds are three or three and a
half feet wide mako three rows of plants
with plant every fifteen
inches in the row, the outside
rows should be six or eight inches from the
cuSo VI JDe D0u AS soon as the Olu DlanCS
Indicate loss OF vigor and cease to bear
abundauly, train new plant to take root
IN between them in the row, and as soon as
these begin to boar block out the old hills
with spade ana insert the plant into the
hole where it will decay and add humus to
the soil.
What variety of berry to plant on the
beds should be determined by what does
BEST in your locality. Well grown plants OF
Sharpless or Albany are likely TO always do
well, or Sharpless and Crescent may be
used. In this case have the center row of
the three Sharpless and the two outside
rows Crescent. The center row may be
Albany if preferred, for it fertilizes the
crescent as well as the Sharpless.
We mention these old approved varie-
ues which have given general satisfaction to
southern growers. There are other newer
varieties that have done well in the south. but
there are not generally Disseminated and
are only to be had from a distance. In a
previous chapter we named number of
.ue newer kinds that have given satisfaction
70 southern growers.