The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-03-11


strawberry beds should be made, and
those who contemplate having them
cannot prepare the ground too soon. 1t
is a fact that but few farmers, COM
paratively, know how to grow straw
berries. 1t was for long time be-
lieved that it was difficult and labor
ious to grow them. when, in fact. there
IS no crop in a garden that can be
grown so easily, or which gives such
valuable results in proportion to cost.
Strawberries can be had on every farm
and abundantly. Growers who make
their land produce maximum crops
have secured 10000 quarts per acre,
but 5000 quarts may be considered an
excellent yield. N give some idea of
how many quarts may be grown ON a
small garden patch twenty-five by 100
feet, which is less than 1-16 of an acre,
300 quarts on such n space is at the
rate Of 5000 quarts per acre. Consid-
ering also the quality Of the berries on
the farm, for home use, will be supe-
rior to any that can be purchased in
market (as they will be fully ripe and
not injured by transportation, they will
be worth at least ten cents per quart,
or $50 for the crop of a small patch
twenty-five by 100 feet-smaler than a
city lot. AS more berries can be grown
proportlonately ON n small plot than
on an acre, there is no reason why 500
quarts should not be picked the first
bearing season. The strawberry bed,
if kept clean and free from grdss and
weeds, should continue to produce
crops for two successive seasons or
more.
Plow or spade the ground as 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 apply
also for an acre a mixture of 100
pounds nitrate of soda, 200 pounds
bone meal and $50 pounds muriate Of
potash. Let it be done the first warm
day, early in spring. and be sure to
work the manure and fertilizer well
into the soil and make the soil as fine
as possible. Then leave 1t until April,
when the ground should be worked
over again. For n small patch the la
Dor will not be so costly, and, as the
first preparation is the most important
the work should be we'll done. After
the plants are set out but little work
will be entailed on the farmer. AS
there are new and better varieties in
troduced every year get from some re-
liable nurseryman two kinds-stamin-
ate and pistillate male and female)
plants, as the selection of varieties
depends on whether the soil is heavy
or light. If for a garden make the
rows three feet apart, placing the
plants one foot apart in the row. Every
fourth row should consist of the stana-
mate variety and the others of the pis-
tillate kind. A patch twenty-five by
100 feet would require about 900 plants.
Use only young plants-runners from
last springs growth-which may be
known by their roots being nearly
white, those of old plants being dark.
Set them in straight rows, pressing the
earth well around the roots. using
water, If necessary, being careful not
to cover the crowns Of the plants.
After the plants begin to grow use
the hoe and work between the plants
well. A hand-wheel hoe may be used
between the rows, and II will work
very close to the plants without injur-
ing them. II the plants are Checked"
In the rows--that is. placed in lines
both lengthwise and crosswise-the or
dinary 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 hoed
IN fifteen minutes, or even in less time.
Do not wait for grass and weeds to ap-
pear, but keep. the sol! loose. During
the summer each plant will throw out
| runners, and soon the bed will be
thickly matted. 1t will be an advan.
tage then to cut the stems which con,
meet the runners with the parent
plants. Should weeds or grass appear
In the matted rows pull them out by
hand. If the matted rows are a foot
wide it will leave but a small space
between the rows to cultivate. II
water can be applied on small patch
during IL dry spell 1t will be beneficial.
Along in the fall, just as winter ap
proaches, cover the rows with fine ma
nure, and over the manure use llght
mulch OF salt hay or straw. Early IL
the spring rake the bed over, so as t
remove the mulch between the rows
and after the plants are well up us'
straw or salt hay under them. so as Il
have the berries clean. These details
are not as laborious as they seem for ,
small crop, and IL choice varieties arr
used the result will be very satisfac
tory. The instructions apply to large
areas also, IL heavy yields Of choice
fruit are desired.-Philadelphis Record