The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1898-12-01

lEcdtiHS Oto pS1hy &'Sos'
This is one of the most, if not the
most, important question that con-
fronts the strawberry grower at this
time of the year, writes o. A. Hammer
in Michigan Fruit Grower. The plants
have just thrown nearly their last
spark Of strength into a large crop of
fruit, and their vitality must be and is
at a very low ebb. Now, if we are to
bring these old devitalized plants back
into a condition of "fruiting vigor"
| again, we must go to work and meet
old Dame Nature-head her off and
turn her into the right channel, and.
| presto, it is done as easy as rolling
off a log. But we must first have q
clear conception of those laws working
in and controlling the life habit of the
strawberry plant. Experimenters and
close students of nature are agreed rp-
on the following: The life work If the
species is to propagate itself; first, by
seed (fruit), and then by division of the
| plant (runners). OF course, a plant
| will make runners before fruiting. and
will fruit after making runners-to a
limited amount; and, if the conditions
were favorable, the difference might
be nearly imp%erceptible; and, too. vari-
cites differ in this respect, as they have
quite a diversity of habits. But, gen.
orally speaking, this ru,e may lie con-
sidered as fundamental and depended
upon. So in handling the old bed We
must keep the fact in mind that it is
natural for the plant to make runners,
or divide itself into many plants, all
with badly developed, if any, fruit buds.
But If we 60 to work and keep off the
runners, stimulate the plant into a
good, healty growth, we head off nature
and direct her from the plaut making
business into the bud making business
"a condition which may properly be
called 'fruiting vigor' with which 10Th
er conditions being favorable) a large
crop may be expected; without which,
failure is certain under favorable con-
ditions. So, in managing IN old bed,
the main objects in view should be to
keep the runners off to hin the plants,
so that each individual plant will have
room to expand and develop; to fer
tilize, if necessary, and to cultivate the
ground and keep it in good filth. We
give these preliminaries for the reason
that we believe it is we'll to know the
underlying principles in The matter in
order to go to work and carry then
out in a practical way. First, we would
look owe: an old bed and see if it was
worth saving. If it is foul with June
grass, sorrel, ETC., or if the white grul
has got it, it had best be plowed up a
once, for it will cost more to care TO,
it than the crop is worth. But If
bed is worth saving, our way of treat
ing 1t is this: With a pillow we turn
furrow about four inches deep, ava.
from the row, forming a back furrov
IN the alley and leaving about a foo
of row; the burrows are turned RICH
onto the mulch. If the weather is dr.
we follow the pillow with the cultiva
tor; II not, we prefer leaving it for
day or so, it will cultivate much bet
ter If a little dry. We cultivate severa
times in a row as deep as possible, i
order to stir and mix the mulch int
the soil Zine manur may be spread o
and treated the same way). After car
is to keep the bed we'll cultivated an
the runners off. Late in winter W
mulch between the rows (never On tn
plants) with horse manure direct frol
the stable; we have used COW manur