The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-22
STRAWBERRIES ON l SMALL CITY LOTS
Dwellers in Town Can Easily Raise Profitable Crops on Small Plots of Ground-New Methods
 of Intensive Culture.

of Ground-New Methods
 of Intensive Culture. Chicago Record-Herald.
 The statement has been repeatedly made that as many strawberries can DC grown on an acre of ground as can be produced of potatoes on the same ground. This statement may be trifie overdrawn, yet there is no question that by adopting intensive culture a great quantity or strawberries can be produced on small plot of ground. If strawberries are prop erly handled, they can be grown In aouno- ance on a city lot. A great many persons grow strawberries this way with the greatest success.
 For this form of strawberry culture very rich soil is tho first requisite. If 1t is not already rich, 1t should be made so before plants are set For ths purpose the best fertilizer is well rotted barnyaru manure. This fertilizer not only adds ni- frozen to the soil, but also supplies hu- mus-this is apt to be the ingredient most needed by the soil of the average city lot. This manure should be well rotted, SO that its properties will pc aVaiiapie when needed by the plants.
 New Method of Culture. Now in order to properly appreciate thts intensive method of strawberry cul- ture if is necessary that one understand something of the nature of the strawberry plant 1t ts according to nature Tor tnls plant to send forth a great many run ners, which strike root and mus Io.n new plants This is the way the species | is reproduced, for the most part In this new method of culture. these runners | must he kept from roofing. slipping them | ss soon as they start. This VIII make the niant throw its strength into forming strong crowns. from which the fruit stalks are to appear in the spring
 | AS the runners are to be kept on' so that no new plants will form, the plants can he set much closer than Is the case under ordinary culture. Plants can pc mt A foot apart and they will do we'll
 After the soil has been thoroughly en- riched. set the plants one foot apart m the spring. Keep all runners cut on' not allowing even one single one to form. by autumn these plants will be great strong ones. with sufficient strength stored up 70 produce an abundant crop of fruit. The | ned should be mulched in autumn with straw which is free from seeds, or 1T ma- | nure can be secured which has no weed seeds. it will serve as an excellent mulch' When there is no further danger rom | frost in spring, the mulch should be loos- ened, to allow the plants to come through after which they will fruit fin the usual way.
 For Next Years Crop. After fruiting under ordinary condi- tions the plants will at once put forth many runners With this intensive meth cd of culture advantage is taken of this to secure the plants for the next years crop. The gardener will provide a num- her of small flower pots-three-inch pots win be large enough. As many pots will he needed as there will be plants required for the new bed As soon as the plants have fruited and start to make runners l these pots are filled with soil and one is | buried just where the first runner from each plant will strike root
 This new plant then roots in the soil In the not. When 1t has become firmly root ed if Is cut off from the mother plant and the buried pots are taken up. each con | taining a we'll rooted strawberry plant. These plants are to form the fruiting bed for the following year. and are placed In partially shaded place, for there VIII not be enough soil in the pots to contain sufficient moisture to stand the hottest rays of the sun.
 Old Plants Destroyed. As soon as these new plants have been secured in the pots the old plants are dug up and burned the soil thoroughly work ed over and enriched if need be. The bed is then ready to receive the plants for the coming season, and the potted plants are then planted out each with its ball of earth about the roots. the same plan of | planting being used as was adopted the | first year. All runners are kept off these plants of course. and they will form strong crowns for fruiting, Just as the original plants the first season.
 | Where plants are continually replanted l in this manner they may become weak