Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1898-04-08

It would seem to be the part Of wis
dom for all who till the soil to give
special attention to those crops that
are almost sure to pay. This is espe-
cfally true when the number of paying
crops is small. A crop pays when it
brings, in satisfaction, more than it
costs to produce it. There is a home
market in every farmers family for a
lew bushels of strawberries, and the
price they will bring is so satisfactory,
so far beyond the cost, that the wonder
is that any farmer fails to supply this
demand. Every person who is at all
proncient as a grower of strawberries,
knows perfectly well that the cost of
producing them is not great, and all
VINO nave had an abundaDs supply
know that they contribute very much
to the enjoyment of all concerned.
Having perfect confidence in the
soundness of these propositions, I will
try to tell how to grow this fruit at
small expense: Early in the spring
select a strip OF ground in a conve-
nlent place, not too far from the house,
and fully exposed to the sun. If the
ground has been cultivated for two
years you will be less likely to be
troubled with white grubs. The plot
should be long and narrow, so that 1t
can be cultivated with a horse. You
should have at least two square rods
for each member of the family. Put
on a heavy coating of manure and
plow it under. Then harrow very
thoroughly and smooth the surface
with the float. All this should be done
as soon as the ground is dry enough
Then procure plants Of two good va
rieties, one early and one late, both
having perfect blossoms. The Mar
shall and Brandywlne would be
good selection. Cut the roots back to
two or three inches, and plant with the
crown level with the surface, packing
the ground firmly about the roots. the
rows should be three feet apart, ana
the plants sixteen inches in the row.
The bed should be cultivated and hoed
mediately after planting, so as to
leave a loose surface that will prevent
the evaporation Of moisture from the
soil. This is the main object OF SUIT
ing the soil, and it should be done Oh
ten enough to keep a loose surface at
all times. This incidentally prevents
the growth of weeds. From one to TWO
inches is deep enough to stir the
ground, and it should be kept up I'LL
October. The blossoms that come out
in May must be cut off, and all runners
rs they come out through the growing
season. This must be faithfully at
tended to, or the old plants will be ex-
hausted by supporting a lot of useless
runners. Just as soon as the last hoe
ing is given, at the first of October, or
earlier. an inch or two of cut straw
should be put on the surface between
the plants in the row. If all the space
between the rows can be covered, so
much the better This will protect the
surface roots from the first freezing
and thawing, and still leave the foliage
to do it's work until the end OF the
season. At the beginning of winter the
bed should be well covered with straw,
which is to be removed from directly
over the crowns when growth COM
nences in the spring. As soon as the
'ruit is secured the leaves are to be
tut off, and when they are dried the
mulch is to be stirred up and the bed
2urnt over. New, healthy growth will
tart at once, and not rusty leaf will
,e seen that season, as a rule. The bed
s to receive the same care it had the
irst season. If these directions are fol- ;
owed there will hardly be a failure in
wenty years.-M. Crawford.