Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1898-04-22


II 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-
cially true when the number OF paying
crops is small. A crop pays when Il
brings, in satisfaction. more than IL
costs to produce 1t. There Is home
market in every farmers family for
few bushels of strawberries, ana tnei
price they will bring is so satisfactory,
so far beyond the cost, that the WONDER
is that any farmer fails to supply TINS
demand. Every person who is at all
proficient as grower of STRAWBERRIES,
knows perfectly well that the cost OF
producing them is not great, and all
who have had an abundant supply
know that they contribute very much
to the enjoyment of all concerned.
Having perfect confidence in the
soundness of these propositions, VIII
try to tell how to grow this fruit at
small expense: Early in the spring
select strip of ground in a conve-
nient place, not too far from the house,
and fully exposed to the sun. II 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 horse. you
should have at least two square roos
for each member of the family. Put
on heavy coating OF manure anu
pillow 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 late, DOM
having perfect blossoms. The MAT
shall and Brandywine would be d
good selection. Cut the roots pacK 70
two or three inches, and plant with the
crown level with the surface, packing
the ground firmly about the roots. Tne
rows should be three feet apart. and
the plants sixteen inches In the row.
The bed should be cultivated and hoeo
Immediately 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 OF
ten enough to keep loose surface az
| all times. This incidentally prevents
/ the growth of weeds. From one to two
inches is deep enough to stir tne
ground, and it should be kept up iii
October. The blossoms that come out
in May must be cut off, and all runners
As they come out through the growing
season. This must be faithfully at
tended to, or the old plants will be ex-
hausted by supporting 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 its 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
mences in the spring. AS soon as the
fruit is secured the leaves are to be
cut off, and when they are dried the
mulch is to be stirred up and the bed
burnt over. New, healthy growth will
start at once, and not rusty leaf will
be seen that season, as a rule. The bed
is to receive the same care it had the
first season. If these directions are fol-
lowed there will hardly be failure in
twenty years.-M. Crawford.