The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-22
STRAWBERRY CULTURE.
A Grower of Experience Tells How to
Proceed from Planting to Maturing.


James L. Leisure, in Greenwood Qnd) Era.
For the benefit of those who are interest
ed in growing strawberries, 1 give below
the result of eighteen years experience on
my part with that best of berries, the
strawberry.
First, we will begin with the soil. / do
not select the richest soil, for this reason:
The tops grow too large and hinder free
communication of the pollen, a prime essen
tial in the production of good berries, and
the result is more less imperfect ber-
ries. Keep them thin on low land and they
will not rot so badly in wet weather. High
land is more suitable than low and should
be only moderately rich. Poor land is the
best. Cover it with well-rotted manure as
deep as can be turned under, breaking the
ground deep in the fall and let it lie till
spring; then work 1T up into a fine, mel
low condition. 1 always tell my man to
work it up as fine as he can get it, then
/ tell him to work it over again as much
depends on having the soil worked fine
and solid before setting the plants. Then
mark the ground off three and one-half
feet each way, and then you will not have
to cut off the first runners, they being the
best for sets. Why? Because they are
stronger and better rooted than those that
sequently go into the winter stronger and
can stand harder freezing. The strawber-
ry has its peculiar nature and unless we
pay attention TO this, success will not
crown our efforts. To grow prize takers
sow a good sprinkling of manure from
chicken roosts and an equal amount of
wood ashes thoroughly mixed on your
patch in the fall.
Now as to the plants. The proper way
to grow good plants is to select none but
good plants for setting, plants that are
budded for bloom. There is often kind
of plant found in strawberry patches that
rarely blooms, and when ii does only i'm
perfect berries are formed as 1t cannot be
fertilized; this kind of plant 1 term a mon
grel. 1t can be easily distinguished by its
small top and usual absence of fruit buds.
Every berry grower should set out a patch
purposely for plants, for thus a better op-
portunity Is afforded for selecting the kinds
of plants wanted.
Now as to the varieties to set on high
land. The Haverland succeeds better than
any other variety on clay or sand-mixed
soils and should be planted as a leader on
high lands; in fact, all oblong varieties
should be planted on high land. This may
seem queer but my eighteen years OF ex-
perience has proved TO me that such is the
case For low lands set Improved Candy.
Greenville, Bubach, Clyde and Bubach
Seeding. The latter. of my own propa-
eating, stood the freeze of last spring bet
ter than any other variety on my farm and
is the most productive.
Now as TO setting the plants. First, don't
be in a hurry Take the plant in enc hand
and tomato hoe in the other; hold the
plant between the thumb and forefinger as
near the crown as possible: dig the place
where you want to set it; spread the roots
out as near the natural as you can, holding
the crown on a level with the ground; then
pack the dirt around the plant solid and
see that the crown is above the level of the
ground. IL il is not rain will wash dirt
over. the crown and often kill the plant
Now as TO fertilizing. In the first place
remember that large varieties require more
pollen than small varieties. Do not forget
this. as this is an essential in growing large
berries. / put fertiliZer-a perfect-fower-
ing variety-every third row. and always Sc
lect for this purpose variety prolific in
bloom and pollen. Pollen is what makes
perfect berries. The Lovett is the variety
| use for fertilizing large varieties. Now
for something that may seem queer. AL
ways set your rows north and south. L will
| tell you why. AT the time of the year wher
the plants are in bloom the winds are most
| ly from the west, and the pollen is carried
| from row to row and the little bees which
aid carrying the pollen from flower to flow
| er are blown the same way by the wind, and
| thus thorough fertilizing is accomplished
| which Is absolutely necessary To grow Z
| good crop of berries.
Now as TO cultivation. l begin as soon a.
| plants are set, using fourteen-tooth culti
| vator: il Is sometimes strawberry plow
Cultivate as close as possible without dis
turbing the roots OF the plant. ! use thi,