The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1903-03-26

New Strawberry Plots.
Early i'm the spring is when the now
strawberry beds should be made, ana
those who contemplate having them
cannot prepare the ground too soon. 1t
is Il fact that but few farmers, com.
para;ivrly. know how to grow straw.
berries 1t was for Il long time he
lirvrd that ii was difficult and labor
iouS TO grow them. when, in fact, there
IS no crop in Il garden That can he
grown so easily. or which gives such
valuable results in proportion to cost.
Strawberries can be had on every farm
and ahundantly. Growers, who make
their land produce maximum crops
have secured 10000 quarts per acre,
but 5000 quarts may be considered an
excellent yield. TO give some idea of
how many quarts may he grown on Il
small garden patch twenty by 100
feet which is less than -lG OF an acre,
300 quarts on such Il space is at the
rate of 1880 quarts per acre. C0nSd-
rrinS also tic quality Of the berries on
the farm. for home use. will hr $upc-
rior to any that can hr purchased in
narErt taS :hry will be fully ripe and
not injured ny transportation. they will
be worth at least ten cents per quart,
or $50 for the crop Of Il small patch
twenty-five by 100 fcrt--Smnllcr than Il
city lot. AS more berries can be grown
prorortionatcly on a small plot than
OH an acre, there is no reason why 500
quarts should not be picked the first
In al,
If kept clean and free from grass and
weeds, should continue to produce
crops for two successive seasons or
more
plow or spade the ground rs deep as
possible, and then spread manure over
the surface to the depth Of two or three
inches, working it well into the soil,
but before working the ground amply
also for an acre Il mixture of 100
pounds nitrate Of soda. 200 pounds
bone meal and 100 pounds muriatc OF
potash. Let 1t he done the first warm
day, early in spring. and he sure to-
work the manure ana fertilizer well
into the soil and make the soil as fine
rs possible. Then leave it until April.
when the ground should he worked
Dor will not be so costly. and as the
first preparation is the most imnortant
the work should be well done. After
the plants are set out but little work
Will he cntailcd on the farmer. AS
there are new and better varieties in.
tfouucrd every year get from some re-
liable nurScryman two kindS-stamin.
nt" and pistillatc (malr and fcmale)
plants, as the S"lccti"" OF varieties
dcpc u" ia is ho,vv
or hSnt. If for Il garden make the
rows three feet apart. placing the
pants one foot apart in the row. Every
fourth row should consist Of the stnm-
mate variety and the others of the Dis-
tlllate Kind. patch twenty-five by
100 feet would require about 900 plants.
Use only young plnnts-runners from
last springs growth-which may he
known by their roots being neaG!y
white. those of old plants brleE dark.
SET them In straight rows, pHcssfng the
earth well around the roots, using
water, IF necessary. bell(g careful not
TO cover the crowns OF the plants.
After the plants Eegin to grow use
the hoe and work between the plants
well. a hand-walcel hoe may be used
hetWeen the rows, and it will work
very. close to the plants without intur-
ing them. If the plants are "chccked"
III the rows-that is, placed in lines
both lengthwise and crOsswise-thc or
dlhary hoe need not be used, as the
wheel hoe will enable one to do the
work Of several men with hoes. In
that manner small patch can be hocd
In fifteen minutes, or even in less time.
do not wait for grass and weeds to ap-
pear, but keep the soil loose. During
the summer each plant will throw out
runners, and soon the bed will be
thickly matted. 1t will be an advan-
tagc then to cut the stems which con-
meet the runners with the parent
plants. Should weeds or grass aDpear
IN the matted rows pull them out by
hand. If the matted rows arc foot
wide 1t will leave but small snace
between the rows to cultivate, IF
water can DE applied on small patch
during dry spell it will be beneficial.
Along In the fall, just as winter aD-
proAchcs. cover the rows with finn. mn.
nure. and over the manure usc n light
mulch OF salt hay or straw. Early IN
the spring rake the bed over, so ~ to
remove the mulch between tho rows
ana after the plants are well up use
straw or salt hay under them. so ms TO
nave the berries clean. These details
are not as laborious as they seem for q
small crop. and If choice varieties are
uScd the result will be very satisfac-
'or9' inc instructions apply to larger
areas also, If heavy yields of choice
fruit are desired.-Philadclphia Record.
Tho Average Man.
The trouble with the average man NJ
fifty is that he's only about half os