The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-07-03
Strawberry Culture.

y
summer IS the busiest time with the
strawberry grower. Thorough, though
shallow cultivation should now be Civ
en-. 1t IS not only better but really
cheaper to stir the soil after every
packing rain. Constant culture am
SWers three separate purposes, all
highly important. 1t Kills all weeds
and grass effectively and incxpensive>
~ 1t lessons evaporation and con
sumeS moisture to an astonishing de
gree. It renders the soil peryious to
the atmosphere, a necessary condition
TO thrifty plant growth.
An experiment very easily made will
convince the me st skeptcal of the fact
that good cultivation pays and pays
we'll. Select two rows or more. II
desired. Let the soil and general CON
dition be the same at the start. Guilt
vate one frequently, tining the soil
after every packing rain. Cultivate
or rather. work the other, for work
is the word when cultivation is delay
ed and grass; gets a hold at inter
walls Of a month. The difference of
the condition of the rows which
ceive the good and the bad cultivation
Will be most marked, especially if
drought supervenes. 1t will begin to
manifest itself before five days are
over and become greater as the weeks
pass Nor in the end will any money
be saved in cultivation. For the one
working viii cost as much as the
three CIVILIZATIONS.
The word working" as applied to
crop cultivation always impressed me
like the word works when applied
to an authors combined writings The
word brings before the minds eve
something lengthy and tedous-some-
thing that has been delayed and
sWeated over, and, oftener than not
found futile.
But to return to the subject in
hand. The proper implements to cul-
t'Vate Strawberries are a small tooth
horse cultivat0r and {; light hand hoe.
! Two burrows With the cultvatOr
should always be run in each middle.
Go down one side Of the row, plow-
ing as evenly near the plants as safe.
! About six inches is the proper dis
! up on the other side doing likewise.
Following the cultivator should
come the hand hoes stirring the soil
/ in between the plants and other spots
not reached by the plOW. Stirring 9
! the soil by means of the cultivator is
SO much cheaper and quicker than
! by hand hoes is the reason that care
! ful EiOWing as close to the plants as
is safe. should always be given And
/ qulckneSs, expedition is an important
thing in strawberry cultivation. 1t
enables YOU to select Just the right
time to cultivate the piants-the time
when soil and weather is at the best
1t is surprising how quickly and
cheaply cultivation can be done when
done often. Only when delayed does
it become terrible. much as the mans
annual hair combing. which was ter
rible simply because it was annual.
Nevertheless. the Strawberry can
stand more neglect than almost any
crop that grows. Many a grower al
lows grass to possess their strawberry
fields till about August 1st Ther
making a desperate onset he pIows
| digs, grubs. pulls. tears and totes
!. grass till his patience and his tim,
is exhausted If the season is favora
bic he gets a fair crop Of inferior Der
ries. But if timely rain withhOIds his
plants. weak in vitality. dwindle ane
pass in nothingness, or its equivalent
as far as profit is concerned.
Old strawberry rows which it is de
sired to continue in bearing should
as soon as the crop is off be sided bN
a turning plow, leaving as narrow
strip aS is practicable to get Il gOOt
stand. On this strip left chop out the
plants with hoes. leaving the plants !;
foot to eighteen inches apart as tn,
soil is weak or strong and the variety
4 weak or strong grower and runner
maker. \ little later split out tn,
middle with turning pillow. throwing
the earth back to- but not on TIL,
plants. \ good time to apply fertilizer
is in the furrOw on each side Of the
row before the earth is thrown back
Cotton seed meal at the rate of 5OC
to 500 pounds an acre is good fol
summer use. Being fairly rich in am
monia. it induces a steady but no
too sudden and tender plant growth h
This plowing done, the old bed O.
field should be cultivated just as abov,
given for a young field. If practice
bic. it is best to NOV the old plants
loosen up the mulch and while Dir,
burn all off together before the row
are sided. This burning effcctuall,
destroys all parasites and diseas
: spores and does the plants no harm
In a short while they sprOut III
brighter, greenef. stronger than ever
Cultivation should continue as lat,
in the season as grass grows 1t i
our rule to give the last thorough
cultivation about August 18th. Afte
that the soil is stirred no more til
the berries are gathered the following
spring But all weeds and grass ar
carefully scraped out with hand hoe
till the mulch is applied a few week
Before r,pening time.
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