The Iola register., 1901-02-15
Horticultural Meeting.

| N'iNbiN lIlOulublt Ill M
len county," the writer in the very be-
ginning of this article desires to state
that he is impelled by no mercenary
motive in the premises for he has no
plants to sell either as principal or
agent, but his sole object is to induce
a few persons, not everybody, to plant
a few acres, not awhole farm, in straw
berries and then give them the proper
attention.
TO discuss this question intelligent
~ and arrive at apractical conclusion
it will be necessary for us to ascertain
two simple facts. First, to determine
whether the soil and climate are here
adapted to the successful growth ofthe
strawberry, and secondly whether the
market demands more fruit
On the first proposition it is only
necessary to say that it is an incon-
trovertable fact that almost anywhere
in Allen county under favorable cir
cumstances, the strawberry grows to
! perfection. Methinks someone asks,
| What are favorable circumstances =;
The answer would undoubtedly be a
gentle undulating piece of ground,
well drained, naturally fertile or made
so by applying plenty of fine manure,
and thorough cultivation. OF course
it is always inferred that good vare-
ties, with all that the word food indi-
Gates, have been planted Right here
if little depression is permissible the
writer will say that when he was in the
business he was requested by grower
to inspect his strawberry field. On ex-
animation beautiful, we'll cultivated
berry field was found, but it grew not
a single crate of fruit.
The trouble was probably that tne
owner had not been able to give
day once month to attend Horti-
cultural meeting where he might have
ascertained that there exists in the
strawberry family pistillate and stam-
enate varieties and he had made the
fatal mistake of planting the one with
out the other to fructify or fertilize it.,
and make it bear fruit.
Thus he lost histime, lost his money
and lost his temper.
From the marked success which
growers Of berries, in small way.
all over Allen county have met with.
we. are constrained to say that the soil
and climate are suitable for the most
successful growth of the strawberry.
We believe and voice the sentiment
of the citizens of lola when we say the
market demands more home grown
berries, because thousands of boxes
of foreign berries are annually shipped
in and, though not nearly so fine as
our home grown berries, find a ready
market at renumerative prices.
Referring to the small average of
Strawberries in Allen county, we wish !
to state that at the emeetingof the State
Horticultural Society in December
last, in Topeka it was reported that
this county had less acres of straw
berries than any other county in the /.
Second Congressional District. only |
six acres having been reported in the
county. 1t is believed that lola can |
furnish good paying market for at /
least ten times as many berries as are |
offered here of the home grown pro-
duct. All the growers, so far as we
have had an opportunity to interview |
them on the subject, agree that the
business is fairly profitable in Allen
county.
As to the yield much depends upon |
the varieties and the mode of cultiva-
tion. A report from the last meeting
of the Southwest Iowa Association |
tells of one man who sold from an |
acre and half of strawberries an av-
erage of twenty dollars worth of fruit |
per day for four weeks.
Another picked one hundred quarts |
from a square rod of ground, and ten |
thousand quarts from single acre.
A report from one grower in Allen
county recently received, stated that !
he realized three hundred dollars |
from one acre. Hecultivated thorough |
ly and happening to have good we'll
with wind mill close by, when neces-
sary irrigated the plants.
Providing suitable mulching in win
ter and depositing it between the rows
in the springtime has much to do with
the yield and the appearance and the
sale of the berries.
Report of the February meeting of
the Allen County Horticultural
Society.
How rapidly and apparently i'm
the wheels of time re-
volve. Almost before we are aware
of it, we are brought face to face with
the second meeting of the new year.
Notwithstanding the small number in
attendance, which we attribute to the