Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1904-01-09
BOD

There Is no market garden crop about
which l get more letters OF inquiry
than the strawberry. The great eXten-
sion OF the culture OF the strawberry
along the South Atlantic coast and the
general prohtableness OF the crop has
led to the planting OF wide areas
Strawberries are rarely profitable ON
high and dry soil. Moisture in the soil
seems TO be Of more Importance than
even the amount OF plant food il may /
contain. and n moist soil can be more /
heavily fertilize( than a dry one. be /
cause OF the immediate solution OF the
food contained in the application /
Hence in the South the culture has
centred in those sections where the soil
IS naturally black and filed with hui
mus. and the permanent water table
is not far down In the land Few real
ize how deep n strawberry root will
permeate in a mellow subsoil in search
OF moisture. Having the proper soil,
and such soil abounds in the coast
country from Maryland and south
ward. the grower can afford 10 treat Ii
literally Size. frmness and snowy
color are what he is after, and the Ter
tilization OF the soil has a great deal
to do with these. An excess OF nitro
gen will produce a rank growth and
large berries. but is apt 10 result in
berries too soft for shipment. hence
great care must be taken I'm the COM
pounding OF a fertilizer for the straw
berry. As preparation FOR the plant
ing Of the crop there is nothing supe-
riOr 10 a heavy growth Of cowpeas dur
ing the summer. In order 20 get this
heavy growth and the nNation Of or
ganic nitrogen before the planting IL
will pay well 10 use some mineral fer
tilizcrS on the pea crop. -Four hun
drcd pounds per acre OF acid phosphate
and muriate OF potash mixed In proper
ton OF i've parts OF the first 20 one oil
the last named viii give heavy croi
or peas. In ordinary farming we con
slider IL n matter of economy TO NOV
the peas FOR hay and feed them e
stock. But as a preparatory crop 60
fine growth OF strawberries it pays &
be a little more lavish with the pea
and let them die on the land and the
turn them under ia preparing the Ian
for the berry crop. The best time [
set the plants after the peas is in NJ
vember or December. The soil is the
moist and droughts are over and the
get the advantage OF the buried pea
which could not be- had earlier Plantc
at this time we cannot OF course -
pect much in the way OF crop the hr'
spring In fact it would be better
all the blossoms be taken or and a
plants not allowed 10 fruit at all
planting make burrows four fe
apart. and in these burrows scatter .
..f Ia. FOL In m
ture. Acid phosphate. 1000 pound
dried blood or fish scrap. 200 pound
murlate OF potash. 800 pounds. Tv
burrows are Tapped over these. makii
sharp ridges These are rolled dow
nearly fiat. and the plants are S
fifteen inches apsrt on the datten
ridges. In the spring / add 500 poun
more OF the following: Acid phospha
800 pounds: dried blood or hsh scrs
COO pounds: nitrateOf soda. 100 poun'
and muriate Of potash. 400 pounds
similar dressing is given in the f.
and during the season OF culuvau
the runners are treated in along I
rows 10 make a matted row the folio
ing spring when they bear their he:
Test crop. During the winter pier
of pine leaves are gathered. and in
early spring these are placed betw'
the rows for the double purpose
keeping the fruit clean and hav
them at hand to pull over the plants
case frost threatens when they are
bloom. In the South Atlantic coast
winter mulching is necessary. In
IL would be harmful by delaying
starting OF the plants. Some grow
would use the nitrate OF soda III
heavily in the spring. but have fOl
that while IL makes larger berries
apt TO make them soft. After the
has made one heavy crop it is beS
plow II down after the fruit is of
plant in other crops. In the meant
having another plantation coming
In fact the planting every year is
only way TO keep up the prOducuo
the finest fruit 10 the tcD notch.
the planting of new plantation
cheaper than to attempt TO keep an
field clean of grass. Some growers
the plants in August and Septen
and grow them strongly SO as 10 e
fair crop the following season.
this necessitates heavier fertilizs
and does away with the getting OF
pea crop 10 help out. l prefer 10
the peas and 10 plant III Decemb
w T.. Massey, Editor Of Prac
Farmer