The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-04
STRAW BERRY BEDS.
Jersey Authority Gives seien-
tifc Facts About Soil, Plant
and General Care.

-
Professor Alvah Jordan Of the Eorticul-
tural Department of the New Jersey State
Agricultural Experiment Station, at New
Brunswick, has written an exhaustive
| article on the cultivation of the straw
berry in this State, based on the testi-
mony of over one thousand growers In
various sections. The article is the result
of the most careful study of all the con-
| ditions affecting strawberry propagation,
| and is Incorporated in Bulletin No. 2G.
| which has just been issued by the Elk
pertinent Station.
The report begins with the subject of
soils and their char acteristics as related
to strawberry culture in this State, and
shows 625 growers prefer sandy soil, while
$40 favor clay loans. The majority, how
| ever, are in the southern portion OF the
| State, where there is little else than sandy
| soil. The report says
Under average conditions of culture,
| the heavier soils will doubtless show
larger Yields, but in this comparison no
| account is taken of ~earliness, which is
an important consideration in many iocak
tiles, and is a factor ] i favor Of the sandy
soil.
In connection with the character of
soils, their location in reference to eleva-
ton or slope is also important, pars.4~ =
larly in reference to danger from frost.
The data on this point are from 1900
growers, and embracing wide differences
in elevation and all points OF the compass.
In choosing soil and location. it is well to
remember that there are two or three con
ditions where liability or late frost is re-
.1,,oad = - a roinfra,4rn /. a N II ,anar a hp6xr
of water is less liable to suffer than land
not so close, because of the influence of
the water in preventing a rapid fall OF
the temperature of the surrounding air.
Likewise, high land than low, since the
cold air, like water. sinks or flows to the
low lands. In the above case, however,
should the low land be close to a body of
water, it is probable that the high land
would be injured first. since the water
would protect the low land.
In regard to varieties the report shows
that ninety-one kinds of strawberries are
grown in the State. yet individual dealers
do not mention more than three or four.
1t continues
The selection of the varieties to be
grown is worthy the most careful study
as there is nc best one for all the vary
Ing cOnultlOnS OIL SOIL, climate ana MAR
ket. In selecting varieties. the following
| points should be taken into consideration
in connection with rate OF yleld.1. l<o-
cation in reference to market. II dis
tant, frmness is a primary consideration,
in order that it may Withstand the Jar
of shipping and handling, If near, this
! quality is much less important. 2. The
demands of the market in reference to
character of fruit; since the size, shape
and particularly the color preferred dit
| fer will different markets Markets dlf-
fer, too, in reference to prices paid for
early and late sorts, in some, early va
| rietieS are most profitable, i'll others, the
late. These points taken together should
determine the varieties to select, and are
quite as important as selection OF SOIL
and method of culture.
1t gives the names of the prominent
berries and in three columns shows those
best adapted to the three sections; North
ern, central and southern. The Bubach,
Sharpless, Candy and Crescent are in all
three divisions, but the Candy is held in
the lowest esteem in Northern New Jer-
sew, while it is first in the list for South
Jersey.
The report gives excellent advice as to
setting, cultivating, fertilizing soil, etc,
and concludes with these practical sug-
gestioEs:-
Select a soil of good texture, one that is
well drained and moist. A medium clay
loan is perhaps best where earineSs IS
not of great Importance StraWpelllss
| do well on a variety of soils; there is
| hardly a soil upon which when one OF
another variety will not thrive, hence Sc
lect the varieties that are adapted to the
| soil. as we'll as to market conditions.
Candy seems pre-eminently the variety
for low, moist or wet lands, and is a line
shipper. ra,r -
one and one-half feet is the usual distance
for setting.
Hill culture requires more labor, but
| this is usually more than counterDaIanced
by the superior yield and quality OF the
fruit producer; it is a system specially
well adapted for small areas. Thorougf
cultivation is important, especially the
first year, to be followed by a mulch. An
| abundance of plant food is necessary,
| particularly the minerals; the aDundant
use of heterogeneous manures may force
leaf growth at the expense Of fruitfulness.
A mixture of equal parts of ground bone.
acid phosphate and muriate OF potash
forms a good basic fertilizer. The amount
applied may range from 500 to 1000
pounds per acre annually. A further adj
dition of 100 to 200 pounds per acre OF MI
| trate of soda in late spring GlIle of bios
soming) is also a desirable practice.
Full crops cannot be secured without at
| tention and the use of remedies for In
sects and diseases.
Those VINO study the crop and use sys-
tematic and thorough methods, both in
culture and in handling. find strawberry
growing a profitable business.
The report will be found to be of con-
siderable value to adept strawberry grow
ers, as well as to those who are Just go
ing into the cultivation in a small way.
Edison won:t Talk Tnto a Pbonograph
Mr.. Edison has persistently refused to
register his voice upon a monograph
cylinder for repetition. according TO an
anecdotal biography of Inventor Edison
=. 49, A,r;1 T odiocs Hona Ia11rnoJ To