The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-23

IN sbaNA hNN AM AAo LAMA ~ "ONAH
Veloped, which form roots and from which
new plants are made of the same variety
as the parent stock. From the seeds Of a
single plant a thousand new varieties may
be produced, while by stimulation Of tho
growth Of the laterals or runners a nearly
equal number may be produced Of the
original or parent variety.
The conditions for the successful culture
OF this very desirable fruit are a rich soil,
thorough tillage and an abundance Of
moisture. Strawberries should not be set
upon soil which for two years prior to plant
ing has been covered with grass, because
Of the destructive work Of the white grub,
which is one Of the family Of outworns.
The progenitor Of the white grub is the
June bug or May beetle. This Is the hard
backed beetle that appears in May, flying
in through the open windows, attracted
by the evening lights, and humping up
against the ceilings and about the lamps.
1t lays It's eggs in a grass sward. The
IarvB when Matched feed upon the grass
roots. II requires three years for the insect
10 pass through its different stages Of de-
Velopment from the egg form.
II strawberries are planted on soil where
grass has previously been grown, the
larvB will eat the roots and destroy many
plants. When a plant Is discovered sud
denly wilted and dropping. by digging down
the white grub will be found eating on its
roots.
Strawberry plants should be set in rows,
three feet apart and two feet apart In the
rows The runners or lateral stems should
be cut as fast az they appear, and the plants
kept in single hills, which will develop large
crowns with a great number Of bearing
stems, which will produce full yields Of
beautiful large berries. For every lateral
stem that Is cut a full bearing stem viii be
developed in the crown.
By liberal applications Of fertilizers, fire.
quent tillage Of the soil and keeping the
runners closely cut, we have produced
single plants that measured two feet across
their diameters, and which have set $40
berries, not all Of which, however, could
mature. Such plants, under intensive
methods Of culture, will produce 1900
quart ~ berries on an acre Of land, while
the yield, as commonly grown, Is not above
$500 quarts.
Strawberries have two kinds Of bios
SONS One Is perfect, having all Of the
parts In stamens and pistils necessary
for the production Of fruit, while the other
has pistils only, and 20 be productive needs
20 be fertillzed with the pollen from stamin-
ate varieties. To accomplish this, four
rows Of the pistillate variety should be
planted by the side Of four rows Of stamin-
ate kinds, when through the agency Of
insects and by the wind, the pollen from
the staminate plants will be freely dis
tributed over the pstillate rows, thus
making them abt'udantly productive.
Four valuable varieties OF pistillats
strawberries are the Crescent, Sample,
Kansas and Marie. An equal number
Of excellent staminate OF perfect flower
ing kinds are William Belt, Glen Mary,
Candy and Brandywine. As all varieties
will not do equally well in all localities, Il
Il wise, TO plant a few Of several kinds,
then select from these the kinds that prove
best suited to the place
After the blossoms have fallen, straw
OF salt hay, II obtainable, should be spread
under the plants TO keep the berries clean
and free from sand and grit.
The fruit should be allowed 10 Tipen
thoroughly before being picked, as then
only are the finest havors developed.
Berries that are shipped long distances
TO market have TO be picked while they are
partially green, and they cannot have the
best havors thus handled.
During the winter the plants should be
covered by a mulch Of straw or coarse
manure, which will protect them from
bard free4hg' and they win produce