The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-10-17
COMMERCIAL STRAWBERRY CUT
TIvATlON m SOUTH DAKOTA.

leraDle quantity TOT market. ~. IL.
secretary OF the Vermillion
OF March 16. 1906, gives the following
list OF strawberries. The notes append
led represent the experience of leading
commercial growers at Vermillion:
Bederwood, Perfect-A standard va
iriety.
Warield, Imperfect-A standard va
riety. a.'. N...
Senator Dunlap. Perfect-The most
promising new variety.
p, Glen Mary, Perfect-A profitable
large berry.
Lady Thompson, Perfect-Recom-
mended by Mr.. Jones.
Aroma, Perfect-Recommended by
Mr.. Totten.
Kansas, Imperfect-A good bearer;
stands the drouth well.
Sample, Imperfect-The best late va
riety.
Dornan, Perfect-A luxuriant grower,
bearing a few very large berries.
Oregon, Perfect-"My best" says Mr..
Hanson.
Climax. Perfect--one Of Mr.. Collars
choice.
Parsons Beauty, Perfect-A variety
of which we are setting heavily.
Henry Hess, of Flandreau, S. D.,
(east centraD has made a success of
growing Strawberries for market for a
number OF years. The plantation. five
acres or more in extent, is located on a
river bank, n Mr.. Hess applies irri-
cation, using canvas hose and a gaso-
line engine. The following paper by
Mr.. Hess will be Of interest in this con-
nAction:
With good strong 1-year-old plants
properly planted in the right kind of
soil, and given the right kind of cult
walton, we are sure of an abundant
crop of the finest berry that grows.
There are many ways to grow
strawberries, the full matted row. the
half-matted row., h hedge row and the
hill system. Some plant them in bar
rels, but 1 prefer to plant min in the
ground. The best way l have found is
the hedge row or half-matted row. in
which the plants are set about two
feet in the row and about three feet be-
tween the rows for field culture: for
garden culture they may be set closer.
After the plants are set in the spring
they should not be allowed to set run
ners until the young plants are well
established. All blossoms and buds
should be removed as soon as they APP
pear. About July first the n can
be allowed to catch root about five or
six inches apart, to allow a matted row
about n foot wide. After the row is
filed all other runners should be clipped
off, either with the hand hoe or the
rolling runner cutter attached to the
~cultiVator. For the hedge row, plants
should be set the same as for the half
matted row n let one plant catch
root on each side of the mother plant
In a straight line. This may not seem
very many plants, but we have lots IF
land in South Dakota. Plants grown in
this way make great mass OF flbrous
roots and form good crowns and lots of
fruit buds. The berries will be large,
evenly sized, and have good flavor. The
plants can be hoed without hand weed.
Ing and the surface can be kept cult
waited, while If set In full matted row
or allowed to run at random the weeds
would come up to absorb the moisture,
and as a result the plants would be
choked out. .
strawberry plants should be cult
waited from the time they are planted
until the middle of September. About
the 10th of November they should be
covered with about six inches OF good
clean wheat straw or litter of some
kind containing as little weed seed as
possible. This should be left on until
the plants begin to grow under 1t in
the spring. and then should be raked
between the rows and left there until
after the picking season, after which
1t should be removed and the ground
thoroughly cultivated between the
$50 DNAAAS PAoAlN0 ia bCdI I"o
or more crops If they are attended
to as soon as the picking season is
over. They should be moved off, as
they Will make a new growth. very
much sooner. Growing plants is a
business; growing the fruit is another
BUSINESS. Do not set out old plants
that have borne two or three CROPS,
that have their vitality exhausted, but
set out good young plants that are
grown from young thrifty plants the
previous year. We cannot get some
thing for nothing. hence If we want
big, red berries we must have the right
kind Of material to produce them from.
Many say 1t Is too dry in South Da-
kota to raise berries, but 1t Is a lack
OF good plants, cultivation, etc, that
causes failure. | say grow strawberries
end other fruits that are adapted to
our climate, and be sure to grow
enough OF them to have them the year
around. They are better than fat meat
three times a day; besides, 1t is a
pleasure to see them growing, as well
as to eat the big, red fellows.
AS TO varieties, one row of Beder-
wood and two rows of Warfeld are
GOOD medium varieties. One row Of
Splendid and two rows of Sample are
good late varieties. One row of John
sons Early and one of Crescent Seed
ling are good for early varieties. The
above are good for South Oak ota.
There are many varieties. The above
do well with me-"
The farmers of South Dakota should
keep in touch with the work Of the
department Of horticulture of their ex-
pertinent station. We delight to call
attention to the work Of Professor
Hansen and his assistant along the line
OF h~ybridizing, and selecting suitable
fruits for their environment. Two bull
letins on the subjects OF strawberries
n blaCkbeTries have recently been
distributed and they will make good
reading for Our farmers households
In South Dakota and other similar
latitudes. One Of these will be well
to have OF hand when the smooth talk
ing nursery agent comes along. The
fruits recommended should be culti-
waited carefully by those who enjoy
fruits for h table or either fresh or
put up for future use.
In this connection we call attention
to a paper published in the South Da-
kota horticultural report for 1905.
FARM FACTS.
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