The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-02
southern Small Fruit Culture.
THE STRAWBERRY.


ylss grown in the south that there should
bs. There is certainly no more delightful
fruit, thought itmsynotpossesst the economic
value that some others do. There is no
frnit that possesses a more decided medi-
ejual virtue for preparing the system for
the long seige OF summer time than the
strawberry does. It is fruit of very easy
culture-needing to have only a few. re-
dulrements met to make its growth both
pleasant and profitable.
Thsre is hardly any kind of soil but what
can be made to grow Strawberries more or
less satisfactorily. Ordinarily it is only a
question of good variety, proper fertilizing,
cultivation and mulching. OF course there
are soils better adapted naturally to the
growth Of large crops Of berries, but at the
same time very inferior soil can be SO man
aged as TO render it equal to producing very
fair crops of straw berries.
In growing any crop, IL one has not the
advantage of naturally good soil, it must be
made up for by judicious and more abund-
ant manuring and culture than would oth-
erwise be called for.
IL is much more satisfactory and profita~
bic to grow crops of any kind on soil that is
naturally fertile, but when we have not the
use Of such soil we mugt do the best We can
with such as we have.
Now there are some crops, such as corn,
wheat and oats aud the like. that 1t would
not pay under any circumstances to put
worn soil In propef preparation for. from
the fact that the outcome would not war;
rant 1t, but there is no question that very in
forlor soil can be put i'll go u condition for
4 l.,
- cents a quart either. Where persons of
small means do not raise their own straw
berries they are not likely to have many
during the season. We have noticed this to
be the case.
Wherever there is g garden kept up straw
berries should be found in it.. In sections Of
TIE south there are large areas cultivated by
the truckers and the market gardeners near
the large towns and cities fnd in this berry
one of their most profitable crops.
What are the requirements of successful
strawberry culture! The first essential is a
good variety. Among the thousand named
sorts that have been caIalogued in the past
thirty or forty years there are compare
lively only q small per centage that are III
practical use to-day. IN the south, espe-
ciallv. there are barely IA dozen. that are
popular over any considerable area. We
might say barely a half dozen. There are
great many varieties thsU have been orig
mated iu tne past ten years that have not
had q trial in the south, and some OF these
might be found highly adapted to cur eli
mate.
As the matter stands now the most gen
orally used varieties with us are the Albany
SharpleSs, Crescent, Downing, Manchester
and Cumberland.
The thre5 first named are more extensively
disseminated perhaps than all other varie~
ties together. Not one of these are Of more
recent origin tha4 1914. The Albany and
Downing, lutr0ducedIihrty yeal ago, nave
lived TO grow moro popular every year, but
the latter seems to be less appreciated than
1t vas few years ago.
During the past ten years number of
valuable sorts have been introduced and
some Of them have attained great popu-
larity Ia localities. Of these the following
have done wellin southern ATTITUDES, though
the tests have been rather limited:
Bubach, No. 5, Jersey Queen, Haver-
lana, Cloud, Micaels Early ID Jessie. OF
the latter the BuLach, Jersey Queen, Cloud
ana Hayerland are pLstilla,e Tor imperfect
1owerlngl, and must be planted with other
varieties that will feEtIIize them, such as
Albany, Sharpless or Miners prolific.
Of these first mentioned only the Ores
cent is plStilate variety. AS a rule, our
nome gardeners prefer the perfect varie-
ties.
In starting plat or field of straw berries
one should lot be satisfied with uncertain or
mixed plants, but should get the best variety
possible Ii they can not be had In ores
own locality send to the nearest point where
"eIl>ralsed plants can be had. To con-
siderable extent culture makes the good
S4uIs, Du6 II Is not necessary to state that
eohe varieties are naturally moro product
I'VE ard OF finer quality than others
"nere one has pure, welI-bred variety
~ Is lnuch easier to make a sale of plants
Inan "hea they are mixed and OF questions
aole parentage. 1t is nearly ALWAYS the
case that enough plants of a good variety
can % yearly sold to almost, il not fully.
pay all the expenses of culture. If one
uoes noV care to sell plants what are not used
III charging the plantation can very prop.
cry pe given away to poor but deserving
neiRhbors.
II choice of soil IS to be had loamy
t ePil Is 20 De preferred but for some varie-
"os Gay loan SO Ems to give the best re-
suns Nhatever the soil it should be well
Walaed. In preparing the soil for the re-
cepuon OF plants it should he thoroughly
Po"ed, and SUBSIDIZED if necessary Then
WIN narrow Tor rske) the surface should be
, zen puiverized. Lay off lines at least
. . 1eet apart and set the plants sixteen to
10y AACuSs hpUrb III the row. SET the
pants on level. With a transplanting
loWel dig shallow hole sufficiently large
soaiiow the roots of the plant to be spTead
normally In every direction Then draw
e9tne SOIL over the roots and press il down
nrihIy on them, leaving the soil depressed
ABOUT the plant. Fill this depression with
water and after it has soaked in draw the dry
VI loose soil about the plant. Then mulch
Soout each plant with large double hand
t ~ VI pine straw or in its absence the next
JEST material. Il is simply out of the ques-
lon 10 carry on strawberry growing satis-
.acoorlly IN the south without recognizing
sne value Of mulching. We do not think
We should ever be tempted to plant more
tlan we could mulch. Our warm weather
Oh Such long duration, the dry spells OF
nucn frequent occurrence, and the grass or
"eeus SO prone to spring up at least ten
nlohtns IN the year. that it is not possible to
proceed economically aud secure the best re-
sults wlthout the invaluable mulch An I'M
nuIcned plat becomes q mass of grass and
weeds very shortly after the berries are
Inrough bearing unless the cultivation is
sSSntinued, and it has been our observation
" .na !. very few growers make any attempt
a. 40 TINS very large number of plants
= WI Caln TO die out under the baleful infiu-
,,,o .e u luxurious growth Of grass and
1ne strawberry patch is presume
.IIu,-N certainly ought to be--and
- ass anu weeds are bound to take prompt
Possesslon OF II as soon as cultivation has
0"Sseu' "A wen nulched plat will preserve