Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-05-26
THE FARM AND HOME.
OBSERVATION ON THE CULTURE
OF STRAWBERRIES.
The Hnn system Preferable to the Mat
ted Row system Killing Potatoes FOR
the Cabbage Worm Farm Notes and
Home Hints.
CnltI,atlng stramherrles.

mat brings us 10 the most uIlhtute
part OF growing strawberries. The
seasons are so varied, tine soils so
different, that we can lay down no
definite rule that must be strictly
adhered to. II must be understood
by your readers that | am only Civ
ing my manner Of doing this, after
years OF experimenting and study,
during which have gained the APP
pellation OF successful berry
grower. writes G.. W. Williams in
the journal AT Agriculture | have
learned much more by the failures
| have made than by the success OBJ
tanned. If any one launches out into
the berry business thinking he has
the full assurance that he Is not go
ing to make any failures he will be
sadly disappointed, for We frequent
ly meet with failures under the most
llattering prospects and care. After
years of experience and association
with them. studying their habits and
invest eating their pecuiarities, we
gain a knowledge that we may, with
reasonable degree Of assurance, eS-
peet a crop
We must get varieties suitable to
our soil, or BY artificial means make
the soil, as near as possible, suitable
to the variety, aud get them at the
proper time | prefer to set just
before the bloom bud opens, always
pinching il out clear back to the leaf
bud. II the bloom is left on. the
plant will almost exhaust itself try
ing to produce the berry, and when
the berry has ripenad which IL may
do in an imperfect manner the plant
will be very puuy and will take the
best part OF the season 10 regain lost
vitality. After having set in rows
four feet apart and about two feet for
an average in the row, IL the ground
is nearly level and not inclined 10
drain we'll | run one furrow with a
single shovel pillow In center between
I the rows; this draws the excess o.
water from the plants ! culti-
/ vdte about the same as any
I other hoed crop. As soon as the
grass and weeds begin TO appear. or
I before, II there has been no hard
rains to pack the soil. | 20 twice
! in row with one.horsc harrow
This can be made By any farmer a.
/ small expense who has a dozen old
I harrow teeth. Make II In the form
| OF an A, putting handles 70 II so II
can be guided. and hitched 10 tho
pointed end following with u hoe.
merely working the surface, but II
there has been heavy rains, I use u
I five-tooth cultivator and let IL down
deep to loosen the ground even
I deeper than the roots 81 the plants
\ following with q narrow bladed hoe
or four.tOng potato hoe (not potato
FORK and loosen up the soil between
the plants. This ! do every ten
days or two weeks until late sum,
mer or early fall. being governed as
to deep or shallow cultivation by the
amount OF rain. always leaving my
ground in the fall as nearly level as
possible.
When the runners start out keeT
them turned longways the rows.
This can be done BY getting up close
to the plants with the harrow or
cultivator. When the runners have
met between the hills begin to 'shy
off a little from the plants giving
them wider berth that thcy may
spread sideways. By the time th,
plant making season Is over yor
should have a matted row ten o.
twelve inches wide Never allow
them to get over twelve inches wide
/ find that cutting OIL runners doe,
not pay and have discarded the
practice except where / want TO raise
a few extra large berries for exhim
tion, the thinner the vines the
larger the berries, the thicker the
zines, il the rows are not too wide.
the more boxes per acre but the
smaller the berries. This system d
cultivation Is given where space I,
limited as IS the case on nearly all
farms (?). Mr. Editor. did you ever
notice farmer with acres and acres
Of good land covered with haze
brush, sumach or wild grass and
weeds, how stingy he was TO sci
apart an acre or two TO the raising
OF berries, and even "that after b,
has tasted the good gifts from hi.
neighbours berry patch?"
When land is not limited, mic,
and easy way TO cultivate Is in wha
is known as the hill system. TO dc
this we set the plants four by three
feet apart and cultivate both ways
with the harrow and cultivator
This saves much time and hoeing
To keep them i'm hills. take a piec,
Of steel one and half or two inche
wide-an old piece Of buggy spring
is the very thing about two fee
long. Get the blacksmith to draw
one edge out like knife. making
good and sharp. bend It in circl,
welding the ends together, drill
hole on either side opposite one an
other and rivet to these holes eacl
end OF three-fourth rod previousl,
bent like a bucket bail, only IL mus
stand up higher. Draw three o
four inches Of the rod together Il
the center, weld and sharpen Xix
the shank on a pitchfork. Bore
! L = l.. 4 - T.. A =.