The Delta independent., 1905-03-17
CARE OF SMALL FRUITS.
A Sue cessful Grower Of Strawberries and Black
berries gives the Public the Benefit
Of his Experience.

dressing of fine manure, chicken ma
nure if we'll mixed with ten times its
bulk of fine soil is the best Mark off
in long rows two and one half feet
apart and set plants about 20 inches
apart in the row, which will take about
5000 plants to the acre After allleaves
except crown leaves have been cut off,
have the ground and roots moist not
once letting the roots get dry Irrigate
often enough to keep ground moist
Also keep ground mellow by frequent
cultivation The plants if set in April,
which is the best time, although the
fore part of May will do, will begin to
send out runners in June, train them
straight in rows by laying little rocks
or dirt on them back of nodes When
each plant has come up set three or
four new ones each way, keep all run
ners off, this will give time to make
good fruit crown for next year Do not
let plants fruit first year We have
found light mulching of fine manure
for the next winter to be good
The old standard Wilson has proved
a money maker with US The Rough
Rider, VIM Belt and Sample, with sew
eral other vrrieties which we have
thrown out, originally came from Mich
igan, and were grown by one that was
specialist in plant breeding The three
above named varieties produce wonder
fully nice large berries for home use
or markst Strawberries bring quick
returns They have helped US out in
getting start on new ranch while
waiting for other fruit to come in bear
ing - w
The upper part of our valley cannot
be beat for growing berries Under
good cultivation they attain size, color
and quality to intense degree, which
will gain for them a reputation in any
market Surely We have our mountain
towns that had ought to be reached with
this fruit
In picking berries for market be sure
to leave on thecalyx In order to do
this take hold of the stem with thumb
and finger breaking the stem, thus
avoiding bruising the berry Each pick
er should have crate, which is better
if kept shaded, and as soon as filled re-
move from the field Someone should
see that the boxes are of uniform size
and well filled as they will settle some
before reaching market
The crates may then be covered with
clean store paper and nailed up The
name of the grower may be stamped on
each crate Lay aside in a cool dry
place, good cellar will do until next
morning when they should be marketed
with as little shaking as possible
Blackberries which are the next best
of the berries, some like them better
than dewberries After six weeks pick
ing Strawberries, we like to etand mp
to pick the rest of the season, again
they are firmer berry for transporta-
tion The Snider has been our standby
as it does well everywhere that black
berries grow and is good producer
They should be set in rows seven feet
apart and three and one-half feet in
rows, thking little over 1000 sets to
the acre when they come in bearing,
which will be the third year In the fall
lay bushes down Two persons can work
to advantagei one taking shovel full
of dirt from the roots on one side, the
other with a fork pushing them over so
they will bend in the root, laying dirt
enough on the canes to hold them down
until the covering can be finished with
straw or hay, the latter making the
best mulch for the next summer
Black and red raspberries should be
treated in about the same manner
However, they are not quite SO profit
able as the other two kinds of berries.
-G.!H. Webb, in Cedaredge Champion.
MONEY TO LOAN at lowest rates on
farm and city property.
STEPHAN & OBERr.