The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1898-01-29
TURDAY,..... JANUARY 20, 1895
STRAWBERRY CULTURE.

FOR Home Use and Markets--In Florida
aad Other Gulf States.
The following suggestions are CLEANED
from an elaborate treatise on strawberry
culture from the Florida station. Fall
being the planting time in the other
gulf states, these suggestions are of value
outside of Florida:
Strawberry growing for early ship
ment to the north Atlantic cities is a
leading industry. The first requisites
are to get a variety that will ship we'll
and that will sell we'll. Usually berries
of highest quality are soft and juicy and
cannot bear shipment.
Strawberry growers must get together
in colonies so that there will be enough
Of them to attract plenty of pickers In
season and to cooperate in purchasing
boxes, crates, fertilizers, ETC., and in So
curing the best shipping rates and &C.
commodations.
Use telegraph service to get ice and
cars promptly rather than to get mar
ket reports. A good market report Is
sure to lead to "a glut at the point from
which it comes, for berries will rush
there from everywhere. 1t Is better to
ship to points which report a glut, as
such report will keep others away from
there.
Good fruit sells itself; therefore Gull
closely, pack honestly and we'll, sending
neat, clean, full boxes Of fine fruit, and
returns will average all right from any
market.
In Florida the best strawberry soil is
O good fiat wood soil. Next best isia.
hammock or ebay head The soil must
hold moisture we'll, but not be soggy.
Never plant on light, sandy soils unless
prepared to irrigate. Too much water,
however, injuresthe shipping quality
makes them too soft.
The leading varieties grown in Flori-'
da are the Nunan, Cloud, Hoffman and
Lady thompson @non6%of which is Of
very high quality, but they are sure,
heavy choppers, ship well and sell we'll.
The Lady Thompson, the newest of the
lot, is best in quality. but is rather
light in color. 1t requires skill to grow
it at its best. Most northern varieties
rail- Ill FlOr1ua.
To keep up the vigor Of plants, do
not try to get both fruit and plants from
the same bed. Keep the runners cut off
the fruit beds and fruit buds plucked
out of the plant beds. II all the cner-
gies Of tho fruiting bed are thrown into
the fruit, the berries will be large and
finer. and If all the energies Of the par
II plant are thrown into the young
plants spriuging from it, next years
beds will be stronger, more vigorous
aud more'productive and the fruit will
be finer. esrs;fitr
A frequent shifting Of the plantation
from field to field starves out insect ene-
mics and checks fungus diseases, and a
rotation Of crops also helps the land.
As the strawberry plant grows all
winter In Florida it must have a period
Of rest in summer, which it takes in
midsummer, after the fruit is harvest
ed. If it is intended to fruit another
year, NOV it, let the mowings dry
enough to burn and then burn it over.
AS o as growth starts in the latter
part Of summer clean out tho grass and
weeds and cultivate till FROST But gen.
orally it will pay best to set a new
plantation every year. In this case turn
the old bed under deep with u sulky
pillow as soon as the fruit harvest is over
and plant cowpeas.