Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-03-07
Nine Years Experience In Strawberry
Culture.

The following paper was read by e. N,
Berry at recent meeting OF the Otero
County Horticultural Society. Mr.. Berry
has had many years experience in fruit
culture in the Oldest fruit region of tho
Arkansas Valley, near Canon City, and
his recent location in the Rocky Ford
country is quite valuable acquisition to
our horticultural interests:
In writing on strawberry culture, I
will not try to make any howery illustra-
tion, but will confine myself TO facts.
In 1884 began work for W. B. FELTON,
in Canon City. As he had but 10 acres OF
land I had an opportunity to watch very
closely how things were carried on. Ho
had about acre of Strawberries set out
In '82; in '83 the crop Of berries was smallj
in '84 the crop amounted to LOO quarts.
The plants were set in the side Of the
ditch and to irrigate them was simply to
turn the water down the ditch. We
worked on that plan four or five years,
then we commenced to make the land in
beds, or terraces. and We liked that plan
much better as all OF the ground could
be irrigated and the plants had more
room to set new plants.
In 'Si We had three varieties, viz:
Charles Downing, Crescent and Wilson.
Bridwell, Jocunda, Belm0nd, Crimson
Cluster, Jessie, Crawford, Mrs. Cleve-
land, Haverland. Phillips, Captain Jack,
Nichols, Warflold No. 2, Bubach No. 8,
Jumbo, Edgar Queen and Middlefeld-i =
We began discarding some OF the poorest
varieties and retained five varieties, viz:
Jessie, Bnbach, Haverland, Warfeld and
Edgar Queen. We tried several differ
ent ways of plowing and cultivating. On
the terrace plan we could run the culti-
vator with perfect satisfaction. By set
ting the rows 81 feet apart we could
cultivate until the first Of September and
then we mulched the ground good be-
tween the rows. If the runners were
covered SO muc theh better.
With proper riigation through the fall
and winter our plants came out in splen
| did condition in the spring. We keep
the ground well irrigated but do not cuI-
tivate any until the crop is harvested.
Then we renovate the ground IN good
shape by cutting out the centers Of the
old rows, leaving just the edges to fill up
the space that is vacant.
In picking the berries, to have them
look nice, and also in good condition, it
is necessary to have good, careful pickers.
We find that women are the best piokers;
they do their work in better shape than
boys, or even men.
| we will IOuOW OuI LuIuu eyc lulOuHu
Q model strawberry field: We see the
rows 81 feet apart from center to center;
21Sfeet OF the ground is in q thinly mat
ted row; plants about 6 inches apart.
One foot OF space is covered with mulch
ing and some fine mulching scattered
throu- h the rows. We see the plants,
above the mulching with their splendid
ripe fruit. We see them in every stage
from bloom to ripe berries. We walk
ov,r the field and see no grass or weeds;
We come to the farther end Of the field;
here we See the plckers at work. Each
one takes q row, picks the berries, puts
them in boxes in tray made for that
purpose. We see one coming with tray
Of SIX quarts. Just look at that beauti-
full fruit! She sets the tray on the coun-
tor and takes an empty one. The person
in charge gives her check for tho
amount and she goes again. Oh! such
luscious fauit. 1t has been said that
God could have made better fruit than
the strawberry, but he never did.