Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-02-23
farnl and firesiae.
CULTIVATION OF STRAWBERRIES.

Early in the spring is when the new
strawberry beds should be made, and
those who contemplate having them
cannot prepare the ground too soon.
1t is a fact that but few farmers, COM
paratively, know how to grow straw
berries. 1t was for a long time be-
lieved that it was difficult and labor
ious to grow them, when, in fact, there
is no crop grown in garden that can
be produced so easily, or which gives
such valuable results in proportion to
cost. They can be had on every farm,
and abundantly. Growers who make
their land produce maximum crops
have secured 10000 quarts per acre,
but 5000 quarts may be considered an
excellent yield. To give some idea of
how many quarts may be grown on a
small garden patch of 25 by 100 feet,
which is less than one-sixteenth of an
acre, 300 quarts on such a place is at
the rate of about 5000 quarts per
acre. Considering also that the quail
ity of the berries will be superior to
any that can he purchased in market
(as they will be fully ripe and not in.
jured by transportation), they will be
worth at least 10 cents per quart, or
$50 for the crop of a small patch % by
100 feet smaller than a city lot. AS
more berries can be grown proportion
ately on a small plot than on an acre,
there is no reason why 500 quarts
should not be picked the first bearing
season. The strawberry bed, if kept
clean and free from grass and weeds,
should continue to produce crops for
three successive seasons or more.
PREPARING THE BED.
Plow or spade the ground as deep
as possible, and then spread over the
surface manure 10 the depth of 2 or
8 inches, working it well into the soil,
but before working the ground apply
also, for an acre, a mixture Of 100
pounds nitrate of soda, 100 pounds of
bone meal and $50 pounds muriale OF
potash. Let it be done the first warm
day; be sure and work the manure
and fertilizer well into the soil, and
make the soil as fine as possible.
Then leave it until April, when the
ground should be worked over again.
For small patch the labor will not
be costly, and as the first preparation
is the most important, the work should
be we'll done. After the plants are
set out but little work will be entailed
on the farmer. As there are new and
better varieties introduced every year,
yet from some reliable nurseryman
two kinds-staminate and pistillate
(male and female) plants, as the selec.
ton of varieties depends on whether
the soil is heavy or light. If for a
garden make the rows 3 feet apart,
placing the plants one foot d part
in the row. Every fourth row should
consist Of the staminate variety and
the others of the pistillste kind. A
patch 25 by 100 feet would require
about 900 plants. Use only young
plants-runners from last springs
growth which may be known by their
roots being nearly white, those of old
plants being dark. Set them in staight
rows, pressing the earth we'll around
the roots, using water, if necessary,
being careful not to cover the crowns
of the plants.
CULTIVATION.
After the plants begin to grow use
he hoe and work between The plants
well. A hand.wheel hoe may be used
between the rows, and it will work
very close to the plants without injur-
ing them. If the plants are "check-
ed" in the rows-tbat is, placed in
lines both lengthwise and crosswise-
the ordinary hoe need not be used, as
the wheel hoe will enable one to do
the work of several men with hoes.
In that manner a small patch can be
hoed in Is minutes or even in less
time. Do not wait for grass and weeds
to appear, but keep the soil loose.
During the summer each plant will
throw out runners, and soon the bed
will be thickly matted. 1t will be an
advantage then to cut the stems which
connect the runners with the parent
plants. Should weeds or grass appear
in the matted rows pull them out by
hand. If the matted rows are foot
wide it will leave but a small space
between the rows TO cultivate. If wa
ter can be applied OH small patch
during dry spell it will be beneficial.
Along in the fall, just rs winter ap-
proaches, cover the rows with line
manure, and over the manure use a
light mulch of salt hay or straw.
Early in the spring rake the bed over,
so as to remove the mulch and rake
the manure fine, leaving the mulch
between the rows, and after the plants
are well up use straw or salt hay un-
der them, so as to have the berries
clean. These details are not so labor.
ious as they seem for small plot, and
if choice varieties are used the expe-
riment will be very satisfactory. The
instructions apply to larger areas also
if heavy yields of choice fruit are de-
sired.-Philadelphia Record.