Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-05-07
Experiment Station Bulletins.

commercial articles. Regarding the Cul-
ture of strawberries Prof Munson says a
warm rather moist sandy loan is usually
preferable in growing this fruit but in
general any soil that will raise a good
crop of corn will raise good Strawberries
1t must be thoroughly drained. 1t is
well to grow some hoed crop as corn or
potatoes on the land for one or two years
before setting the plants, as in this way
there is less danger from attacks of the
white grub"
The month of May is, perhaps, the best
time for setting strawberry plants in this
latitude, though good results often follow
fall setting. Two very important con-
sidcrations in setting the plants are that
the crowns be just even with the surface
of the earth and that the soil be pressed
firmly about the roots. These points
cannot be too strongly emphasized, for
to their disregard may be traced more
than half the failures in starting new
paintings.
For general field culture the matted
row. system is probably best. The rows
should be as long as convenient, that most
of the labor of cultiyating may be per-
formed with horse. The plants should
be set eighteen inches apart in rows which
are about four feet apart. Thus placed,
little more than seven thousand plants
will be required for an acre. During the
first season thorough culture should be
practiced. 1t is also well to keep the run
ners cut back till the parent plants are
strong and we'll developed.
Winter protection of the plants is al
ways advisable. The value of such treat
ment is two fold. Not only are the plants
protected from injury but the fruit is kept
clean and bright. The best material for
the purpose is coarse meadow hay cut be-
fore the seeds have ripened. We have
sometimes used "shingle edgings" with
very satisfactory results. In the vicinity
of large mills this material may often be
obtained much more cheaply than the hay.
On light gravelly soils we have some
times resorted to the use of boards on each
side of the row Of plants.
This device is found a very satisfac-
tory means of conserving moisture and
will permit the growth of plants in loca-
tions which would otherwise be insult
able. Naturally this device is recommen
ded only for the home garden.
The question of. varieties, although of
great Importance, is one which must be
settled largely by individual growers; for
the success of any variety will frequently
depend on local conditions. Ii is al
ways a good plan to have a trial ground
for the newer sorts, as varieties of much
promise at the experiment station may
provo worthless in some localities.
In selecting varieties for planting it is
we'll to bear in mind the distinction be-
tween the perfect Towering and the
pistillate sorts Many of our most valu-
able sorts are pistillate and must have
some perfect Towering variety interspersed
in order to secure the best results.
Regarding certain patent foods Prof.
Jordan says:
A class of materials commonly spoken
of as 'Condimental'' or patent" foods,
has been found in our markets for many
years Now and then n new one appears,
as has lately been the case in Maine.
These foods are generally given some pre-
tentious name such as Continental
Cattle Food" Imperial Egg Food"
'Nutriotone, etc. They usually possess
an aromatic or other positive odor, which
to the uninitiated gives the appearance of
value.
The claims that are made for the nu
TRENT and tonic properties of these COM
mndities are fairly startling as lying out
side the range of either common expert
ence or scientific knowledge. and on the
of such claims these wonderful
mixtures are sold in most cases Mt prices
ranging from 800 to $4,000 per ton. How
utterly absurd both the claims and the
prices appear in the light of facts Re-
heated careful examinations of these ma
terials show that without exception they
consist principally of common cattle
foods, or other common materials, mixed
with small percentages of the cheapest
and most ordinary medicinal substances.
Then follows series of analyses made
of these different floods" at different
times and by the chemists of several OK
neriment stations. In conclusion Prof. .Jor-
dan has the following facts to be re-
membered:
~ The mixture of ingredients con-
tanned in the ordinary foods comprises all
that are known either to practice or SCI
ence as useful to animal life.
(2) The ordinary cattle foods supply
animal nutrition In the most useful and
economical forms.
(3) Continental foods are absurd as
medicines. If an animal is we'll no medi-
cine is needed, if Ill. remedies adapted to
the case should be administered.
(p The farmer could manufacture his
own. continental food at fraction OF
their usual cost, by mixing small
amount of such common substances AS
salt, sulphur. saltpeter, fenugreek' cara
wav &c. with the daily grain ration.