The Forrest City times., 1896-07-17
S1RA WBERRY S1RA WS.

In view of the fact that num-
Der of acres of strawberries will
be planted in this county for mar
ket use, We publish the following
useful hints from correspondent
to the Western Gardener, as 10
planting and cultivating the berry:
"Tbe first step toward successful
strawberry culture should be selection
of soil. Good corn land is good, but
rich garden soil is better. Potatoes
make good crop to proceed the straw
berry. as the ground is made loose and
pllable by the cultivation and digging
| of the potatoes. Corn stalks and stub
| bic will greatly interfere in successful
cultivation of the berries, unless re-
moved before blowing. Fall blowing
is essential, and the subsoil should also
be broken at the same time. Select
location where late spring frosts do
not readily form. Wide, open valleys
are preferable to narrow draws. Sec.
ond- bottom land will ordinarily prove
Il desirable location. High, dry up-
lands or southern slopes will produce
the earliest berries, but will lie liable
to severe drouthS. Three or four har.
| rowings Should be given the ground
before Planting: Use disk harrow
first. Mark off the ground with u
hand marker, making rows three and
half to four feet apart. A cool,
cloudy day should be selected, if il is
possible. Never set plants when the
ground is wet enough to ball" in
your hands. II the ground is dry,
pour water about the roots. After
wards fill up and press with hands.
Free running varieties may be set two
feet apart IN the row, others eighteen
inches. Use large hand dibble or
spade for making the holes. thrusting
| straight down, and pushing dirt to one
side. Place the plant with roots hang
ing straight down and the crown at a
level with tho surface. Firm the soil
well about the roots; the drier the soil
the more pressure is required.
begin cultivation as soon as the
weeds begin to start, and do not cease
when the weeds stop. n iine-tOOth
cultivator or hand harrow is the best
| tool to follow the horse. Hand hoeing
should be given often and thorough.
Train runners in line Of row as fast as
they appear. They " IL root faster II
little dirt ID thrown upon the ends.
| When the rows become we'll matted
use knife OF rolling cutter to cut new
runners.
Grub woims are the worst insect en-.
envy to the vines. When you see a
plant whiting, look at the root. The
| May beetle is the parent of the grub
worm. and war should be wagtd
against both old and young. Mice and
moles interfere. with the young plants
| by loOsenng the soil about the roots.
Fill up their runs dis fast as they ap-
pear. with the feet.
THE list of known varieties is we'll.
| nigh endless, but the list selected for
planting shond be short. Some East
ern growers catalogue as high as 100
varieties. One-tenth of this number
| is enough for most any planter For
| a family garden plant Crescent, War.
| field. Beder Wood, Butach, Havetland.
and Mount Vernon For additional
varieties try Parker Earle, Gov Hoard
Robinson, and Candy. For sttictly
new varieties let the professional grow.
er or experimental station make trials.
Irrigation is practicable for. straw
berries where water supply ID abun.
dant. a Two or three good waterings
are better than half dozen light ones.
From eco to 1000 barrels should be ap-
piled to an acre at each watering to
give the best results. Thorough and
careful cultivation is the best substi-
tute for irrigation. Z, Combine the two
and success is sure"