Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-03-29
The Otero County Horticultural SOei-
city Discusses the Strawberry.

urday prevented large attenuance at
the horticultural meeting. J. @. Kahn
not being able to be present the question,
OF insecticides was not taken up, but all
the time devoted to hearing F. A. Hunt
ley, Supt. of the Arkansas valley expert
ment station, on strawberry culture.
Mr.. Huntley said that strawberries
should have very rich soil, one which
had been fertilized for two or three sea-
sons. The beet fertilizers were well rot
ted stable manure and wood ashes, which
should be applied in the fall and turned
under. Bone meal was also an excellent
fertilizer and very little OF it WINS requir-
ed. The ground should be spaded or
plowed to the depth of II to IA inches.
Good vigorous plants should be selected
such as have mass of roots about three
inches long, and a good show of foliage
is desirable but not necessary. The rows
should be "a inches apart and the plants
from IA to 16 inches apart in the rows.
The plants should he set on slightly rais-
ed ridges to facilitate irrigation. The
roots should be spread and the soil press
ed firmly around them. Set 20 that the
crown OF the plant shall be even with the
level OF the ground. The first years cul-
tivation should be such AS will keep the
ground loose and mellow, and irrigate SO
as to never let the ground get dry, nor
yet apply So much water as to make the
ground hoavy. Mr.. Huntley exhibited
two large drawings to show the differ
ence between the staminate and pIstillate
varieties. The following list of varieties
was recommended for Colorado culture:
VARIETIES.
Imperfect Flowering. Perfect Flowering.
Pistillate. Stnmiuate
Bubach (med. in blcoming) Chas Downing.
Haverland tearly medium Chas. Downing.
Jersey Queen date medium Candy.
Crescent teariy medium) Wilson.
Early Jessie. '
MeSum Meea Mnnehestsr. shansl saale'
Late Late oIS oEspraa; Iroa Glad
In planting the varieties requiring fer
tilization by another variety, set two
rows of the imperfect bloomers to one
fruitage. The above combinations are
recommended.
Strawberries should be planted in the
spring. 1rrlgate on both sides of the
ridge until the ground is we'll soaked
Every farmer should have strawberry
bed. If very generally raised a market
would be found for the surplus.
After fr1liting the ground should be
cultivated SO us to keep it well stirred
and no weeds allowed to grow. The
runners should be trained to run in the
uiTectlOu Vi tuo EOWS. OtrAW 1B IQ6 DeSG
for winter covering, say about three inch
es deep, with clods of earth on it between
the rows, but not on the plants. But
little earth is necessary to keep the straw
in place and the plants are not pressed
by weight of the clods.
At the close of Mr.. Huutley's talk
questions were in order. In answer to
Geo. Peck Of Las Animas, Mr.. H. said
that the plants should be covered with
straw as Soon as done growing, first irri-
eating the ground well.
Frank Crowley: grow row OF oats
beside each bed and late in the fall break
the oats down for covering for the
plants.
Mr.. Huntley: All right, il you supply
the ground with proper fertilizers to take
the place of the strength drawn out by
tile oats.
G. A. Jones: Can you plant in new-
manured ground? Mr.. Huntley: Not
unless well rotted, but would recommend
bone dust.
In answer to g. W. swink: Plant
and south plant on the side of the furrow
facing south. If rows run east and west
plant on side facing north.
The secretary was instructed to pre-
pare petition to the board of commits
sioners requesting the appointment Of a
County Board Of Horticulture, and have
the same ready for the special meeting
next Saturday, when three representative
horticulturists will be selected to recon-
mend to the commissioners for appoint
ment.
A special meeting of the society will
be held Saturday next at . o'clock. A
report will then be received from the
committee on sprayers, who will have
present one of the sprayers recommend
ed, that the members may see just what
it is and what it can do. A Question Box
will be provided, through the medium Of
which members are requested to pro-
pound any queries on which they want
light.