Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-01-03

Lie oteTo SOuuty I1orucultuSuA boSle-
ty met in regular session Saturday after
noon last. In the absence Of both Presi-
dent McC!aln and Vice-President Crow
ley, ID. W. Ba1k!ey was elected president
20 tela: 1'ho topic for tho day being
Small Fruits
the discussion was opened with the fol-
lowing paper by Fred W. Stanbridge:
Or small fruits l consider the Straw
berry the king. The first consideration
is location and preparation of soil to set
plants. Though the strawberry is more
uniformly successful i'll all soils than
most any other fruit, yet it is well to To-
cate on land rs suitable as possible. 1t
requires cool rich and moist soil, a
north slope preferable. Should be land
that could be watered without much
trouble rs irrigation is very essential
point of its cultivation. Should have n
natural Drainage as roots will not do
well where ground is wet and soppy, and
good drainage is an advantage during
picking season, promoting drying off
quickly.
Preparation of soil prior to setting out
plants is Of great Importance. AS a rule
not enough attention is given. Ground
should be free from all weeds, heavily
fertilized and plowed deep and thorough
ly before a single plant is set, il we would
secure the best results. Extra timo and
extra pains at the start means extra
money when we begin to roap our re-
ward. When the ground is thus pre-
pared take II small plow, furrow out rows
81 feet apart and You are ready for
plants. The best time to set plants is as
early in spring as good strong plants can
be secured, for the plant is then dormant
and can stand more hard treatment than
ut any other season. You also get the
benefit of spring rains and a long season.
In selecting plants be sure to have yell
low or young roots, as black or old roots
are of no account and your time will be
thrown away. Set III rows 31s feet apart
II to 10 inches in row. Don't cover
crown of plant, II below the earth they
will scarcely live. Never allow ground
to get dry after you begin to irrigate, as
it will be sure death to young plants.
Cultivate often and water often during
summer.
Distribute runners along row so as to
have a plant every 6 inches over a mat
ted row feet wide. Thus arranged will
produce heaviest crop. Mulching is to
prevent frequent freezing and thawing
and though it is necessary in the north
arm part of the state believe it more SO
in the Arkansas valley. 1t should be
put on after ground freezes up and
should be of nature that will not blow
off, like chopped straw or strawy stable
manure, just enough to cover vines from
sight and not enough to smother them.
much fertilizing cannot be given straw
berries. Mulch should not have any seed
in it, as great care should be taken to
keep patch free of weeds. In spring as
coon as plants start remove cover, If too
thick, SO MS to Just let vines through.
Most OF it can remnin so as to keep the
berries off of the ground, the surplus be-
ing raked in between the rows. No cul-
tivation is given in spring OF fruiting,
having been kept free of weeds previous
year. Only few weeds will appear
which can be pulled by hand. Will need
plenty of water while fruiting if you wish
fine large berries.
II you desire to use patch another sea-
son rs soon as last berries are picked run
n mower over it. Soon as leaves are dry
set fire and burn them. This will ans
wer double purpose-it cleans the
patch and it also destroys insect life and
fumigates the plants and prevents dis
ease. II not enough leaves on patch to
burn readily spread straw to help it, u.s.
ing favorable light wind. Next, wet
thoroughly and when dry enough p!ow
burrows on each side, leaving row from
6 to 10 inches wide. Then in three or
four days harrow well both ways and cul
tiyate between rows balance of season.
Another consideration is the varieties
to select, and under this head we should
give some thought to sexuality. AS you
know all Strawberries arc divided into
two classes, perfect and bisexual, the lat
ter needing ratio of four to one to fer
tilize them. Most varieties arc perfect
bloomers, but there are few that are
not, such us the Manchester, Crescent
and others. The question might arise,
"Why set bisexual plants at ala" L
would answer, because among this class
We have some of the finest hayors and
qualities, while many of the perfect class
are coarse and uninviting, but when
crossed with such as the above mentioned
varieties are made better. Tho caution
is this: In setting out the bisexual class
be surc to set out four times as many
perfect bloomers to fertilize them.
AS to varieties my favorites are the Ju-
cunda and Captain Jack, both good yield
ers, perfect boomers and good shippers.
Jucunda are dark color, grow very
large-have filed quart box with II
berries, three or four Of same berries be-
ing inches in circumference. Time of
ElDtLljip Delus lrolll hlsu1ttIl " liibe.
Captain Jacks are bright red in color;
first picking large, grow smaller toward
end of season and on old patches. Time
of ripening from early to medium. Not
ed for its firmness and an extra good
shipper. / pronounce it the best shipper
know OF. A weighty argument for
these two varieties is that they are most
popular among fruit raisers Of Denver
vicinity where berry growing has
been made speciality for many years.
II you wish to have fancy berry for
home use and one that will surprise your
friends, recommend the Jessie. But
they do not yield well and will not keep,
are too soft.
Give the blackberry plenty of manure
and cultivation and you will be surprised
at the wonderful crop they will yield.
We gathered at the rate Of 5000 boxes
per acre. OF varieties I favor the Will
son Early. It is the popular berry
among Denver fruit growers. We also
raised the Early Harvest and Ancient
Britain quite successfully.
While raspberries do not yield SO
abundantly the price is always higher
than for blackberries and strawberries 80
that they are also quite profitable. I
recommend the Tyler and Gregg for
black varieties and the Turner and Han
sell for red. The red were more profita-
BILE than the black caps.
Treatment of blackberries and rasp-