The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-11-08
WINTER AND SPRING PRorEc-
TON OF STRAWBERRIES.

AOSCS5AUy u S6raW-
perry plants to prevent winter killing,
IN nigh ATTITUDES, Is we'll known: vet
even as Tar South as North Carolina
exceptionally cold weather, when it
comes unaccompanied with snow. NAV
bring serious losses to the strawberry
grower who has neglected to protect
MS plants. A strawberry plant, like
an ANIMAL "a stand a great deal of
cold u still survive. Still, there is a
telling loss of vitality in both cases
protected plants, instead of being killed
down to the ground like those In the
open held, remain green and fresh,
bloom earlier and freer, and bear more
berries and finer ones. When In full
bloom, the difference between a pro
tected and unprotected row is visible a
long distance, and becomes still more
apparent at picking time.
Plants should never be covered
before the ground becomes frozen
hard, and the work may be con
tinued until snow prevents It. Where
pine straw is plentiful, as with us,
nothing else is thought of. For five
dollars a year 1 buy all that is needed
for ten acres of berries and for the
stables, with only half a mile to haul
1T. Coarse stable manure, from we'll
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weed seed. Winter growing weeds are
the strawberry growers most danger
Gus foe, and no manure, however valu-
able In itself, should be used if it con
tains their seed. But where it can be
used, followed by aspiring top dressing
of kainit and acid phosphate, the re-
suits are surprising, and pleasing, too,
to the one most interested. Where
pine needles nor stable manure can be
had, the next best thing is cornstalks.
These can be laid as the rows run, and,
If necessary, to prevent blowing off,
weighted with a little earth on the
ends. Dat and wheat straw, chopped
up, Is also used, though 1T Is difficult
to keep it on during windy seasons, an
objection which also applies to all kinds
of deciduOus leaves.
Some growers draw an inch or more
of earth on the plants; but my expert
ence with this mode is that it not only
leavesthe plants too tender when drawn
off In the spring, but that. when r
ticed on a large scale, it is almost i'm
possible to ever get it off at all. And
of all things, the strawberry is most
intolerant of earth smothering, in bud
ding and bearing time. 1t not only de-
crease5 the yield of berries, but also
makes them later. Still, on a small
scale, and in a very cold climate, no
doubt a shallow covering of earth, put
on somewhat later and removed some
what earlier than other protection
would be, Is better than nothing. To
remove is by degrees, would, of course,
be better still.
If pine straw is to be used, it should
be hauled IN time, and thrown out in
convenient piles around the fields. In
we seasons, wagon wheels may work
great harm among the plants. If she
straw is hardy, an early freeze can be
taken advantage of to drive over the
land without damage to the crop. The
Is far better than the pitchfork
? TO apply the covering. Halt an inch
of straw owe the beds WI answer. If
the plants are grown in stools, instead
of matted rows, a strip not less than
fifteen inches wide should be covered.
There is little or no danger of covering
deeper, provided the excess of straw
above Whist IL needed for a mulch is
taken off just as the plants begin to
bud In the spring. The surplus straw
can be scattered In the middle where
it viii, when turned under, pay for
itselfin the benefit to the soil, especially
If the land is heavy or hard. In locali-
ties where pine straw Is scarce, it is
taken off, stacked dry, and made to do
service for several seasons, but where,
as with us, the whole cost is not more
than two dollars an acre, it paws to
leave it on the fields.
This straw also can be turned to ex-
cellent account as a protection against
late spring frost when the plants are in
bloom. From where it lies between
the rows it can be quickly drawn over
the plants with rakes, or prong hoes.
brisk nan will cover an acre in this
manner in an incredibly short time. 1t
may remain On for three days without
injury, dthen bedrawn off as quickly
as it was put on. Whole crops have
been saved in this manner, and brought
high prices, owing to the fact that all
those not so protected were killed. In
the eastern part of North Carolina,
where the blossoms come out earlier
than with u.s., this plan is generally
followed. Indeed, without it. a full
crop could hardly. ever be gathered.
With the Introduction of very early
varieties of strawberries, protection
from spring frost becomes more and
more imperative. Only last year all
the early crops in this section, not SO
covered, were lost.
AS the weather signal service rarely
fails to give warming of the approach
of frost, this method is all the more
practicable. We usually have fully
six hours notice even after the morn
ing papers come in, and live man,
with a well-organized force within call,
can cover eight or ten acres in much
less time than this. The strawberry
grower who does not avail himself of
tnese mems, SO easily within his reach,
can hardly expect profitable crons :
o.. w. BtGcknull, an American AqricatI.
tHTiSt.
Beecham's Pills win save doctors bill.