The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-02-05

Protecting Strawberries.
Winter protection should, at the
north, be applied about the last Of Mo-
Vember; In this latitude about Deem
Der 10th or 18th. A good rule is to
apply it as soon as the ground freezes
hard enough for wagon to drive over
the fields without breaking through
the frozen crust. The chief object in
winter protection is to lessen the heav-
ing Of the soil and the consequent
breaking of the roots and rootlets of
the plants, The sitter the soil the
worse the heaving, and the greater the
necessity OF protection. The covering
should not be thick enough to entire
ly prevent the soil from freezing, but
to greatly lessen the freezing in the
seyerest weather. Pine straw, little
less than an inch deep after it settles,
Is the proper depth in this latitude. 1t,
would have to be deeper in proportion
as you went north. In winter protec-
ton at the north the whole ground
should be covered, beds, middles and
all. The varieties of material that can
be used are almost endless. Where
pine straw, or pine needles, as it is
often called, can be obtained it is al
most the ideal covering. OF all similar
material it is the least likely to bel
blown of. Wheat straw, oat straw,
marsh grass and other similar things
are used. Cornstalks can also be used,
but as they do not lie close a much
thicker layer will, of course, be neces-
sary. The great objection to oak and
similar leaves is that they blow Off
so bad, which is also the case with
oat and wheat straw unless they are
cut up very fine. Yet such leaves and
straw are often used and anchored in
place by placing on them
small stones or a little earth
at short intervals. All avail,
able stable or barn yard manure
should be used for this purpose, TAX
ing the place of other material. II
coarse it can be applied quite thick di-I
rectly over the plants. If very fine it.
will be best to use it mostly around
and between the plants and to put a
coarser, more open material just over,
the plants. The effect of too close a
material over plants is to bleach and
make them tender. Whatever cover
ing is used it must be nearly all re-
moved from Immediately over the
plants about the time that growth be-
gins in the spring. The material can
be left around the plants and between
the rows, where it will serve the dou-
BILE purpose of keeping the berries
clean and of conserving moisture then
so essential to a good crop. Whether
winter protection pays or is even advis-
able south of the Mason and Dixon line
is uncertain. l have experimental for
many winters. Some winters it did
good; some winters it seemed to be
rather harmful, 1t certainly would not
be advisable farther south where crick-
cts and harmful insects harbor under
it and feed on the plants. Besides, the
warmer the climate the more danger
of smothering and bleaching the
plants. But stable or barn yard ma
nure is excellent in any climate il
properly used. have never known
any insect pests to harbor under it.
At the south it should be applied
around and between the plants Used
in this way with a liberal dressing OF
hard wood ashes (ffty bushels to the
acre can be used), or 800 pounds Of
kainit in place of the ashes and 800
pounds of acid phosphate, a heavy
crop of fine berries will almost surely
be made. The fertilizer should be
applied before the manure. 1t is also
good to use without the manure.
o. w. Blacknall.
TTopon COUNTY NJ n