The Delta independent., 1896-03-18
Faun GROWERS INSTITUTE.
Seseiai PaSsn Rsal q its Ssssisas- s-oaesrs
Elected -asssistisas AIsels1.

Inc Ffut GroWero lnotltute eloctoo
W. s. Coburn - president. w. o. Ste
phens, vice president. and Millsrd FsI-
lamb. secretary and treasurer.
The discussions on the different papers
were very interesting and only lack OF
space prevents giving them.
Small Fruits On the Western Sisps.
Much has been said and written on
the subject Of small fruits, and most Of
US have access to competent works on the
same. 1t was with reluctance that
have accepted the subject assigned me;
hence. what have to say will be almost
entirely my own experience and observa-
tion that / have scquired during the
last l6 yesrs in our grand state Colorado.
for our experience ana methods differ
somewhat in different localities. caused
by soil. climate and markets.
Most OF my experience in growing
small fruits has been confined 10 Ara pa
ho county. where Denver has been the
principle market. although for the last
three years l have planted more or les
in this vicinity. and am convinced from
what results have had % far. that by
perseverance most Of the small fruits
that / have tried can be made . grand
success, as far - fruitins is concerned al
though l fear at present our market is
limited en- most varieties.
think without doubt the most popu-
lar small fruit is conceded to be the
strawberry. which can be grown with
success in nearly all our soils. providing
the soil is we'll drained naturally or
otherwise. as drainage is an important
factor to observe in fruit growing.
Nearly all our soils are improved for
small fruit growing by a good application
Of stable manure before ploughing. l
believe in deep ploughing and thorough
preparation Of the ground. before pro-
ceeding to set the plants which usually
do in the spring a. coon as am assured
Of the water and plants. usually in rows
81 or 4 feet apart and or IL feet in
the rows 4 always mark out the rows
and let the water run just ahead Of me.
1 open the soft earth just above the top
OF the water with one hand and with the
other hand shake the plant in order to
spread the roots before inserting in the
hole and With the same hand that l
make the hole cover the earth back on
the roots, barely leaving the crown OF
the plant exposed. I do not let the
water run longer than to sufficiently
sotfl> the a nth -al1 .eopn1 tha ,,,t.
Eor four or five days repeat the process
Of watering once . day giving them
sufficient water to vet the roots. then l
turn it OF. After begin to see that
the plants are trying to start cultivate
with the horse cultivator ~ close as
can without disturbing the plants and
afterwards hoe lightly between and
around the plants where the cultivstor
could not touch. About two days I run
burrows ~ near - can to tho plants
for irrigating and give the ground
thorough soaking but always bear in
mind not to food the plants, - 1t rstards
II il does not kill the plant at this stage,
and a. soon after irrigatinG ~ l can get
the horse and cultivator to work do %.
which will Be usually in two or three
days after irrigating.
I repeat this process with An occasion.
al hoeing. always working the soil a.
soon after irrigating a. possible, in fact
I keep up this process OF watering and
cultivating all through the season but
do not give them - much attention
after the first month but always aim to
cultivate them as otter n I can after
watering which should be at least once
q week narrowing the cultivator as the
runners take tho space. as think the
matted rows more profitable. Late Us
possible before covering or mulching for
winter I try and give them good water
ing. mulch with coarse or green stable
manure as soon a. the ground is suf6-
ciently frozen to drive on. leave the
covering on till see them begin to start
which usually will be about the 18th Of
April when I remove tho coarsest mulch
and leave what think I can cultivate
in. in the middle between the rows.
believe in cultivating till tho time Of
blossoming when the cultivator must
be abandoned until after tho fruit 10
gathered. Strawberries require con-
siderable water during fruiting that 10
often two or three times weekly. After
truiting narrow or thin the rows to a.
few plants a. can and Be assured that
they will produce sufficient new plants
for the coming year's crop. In cutting
the rows down . six or seyen inch turn
plow 10 used IL rows arc heavily matted.
Where thoy are not too hesvys single
shovel doss good work. After tearing
the old plants up clean them out and
cultivate and water - before. know .
great many advocate candy coil for .