The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-03-18
Strawberry Culture

AASA
4 So few North Dakota farmers raise
fruit, not wishing to bother with it,
or else because they consider that it
is impossible to do so with any de-
gree Of success. However, some
fruits can be raised In this state
very successfully. The small fruits
such as gooseberries, currants, rasp-
berries, ground cherries, etc, can be
grown we'll, as those who have ex-
perimented with the right varieties,
can testify. In many places of the
state apples have been raised in
large quantities, but one must be
careful to plant the right kind of
trees, put them in sheltered place,
cultivate them, and take good care
of them generally. We have seen
nice patches of Strawberries in North
Dakota, and would like to see every
one of our farmer readers expert
ment with Strawberries this season.
But you don't know how to raise
them, you will say. The following
concerning the growing Of strawber-
ries in North Dakota will be read
with a good deal of interest. Cut
this out and refer 70 it, when yo,
plant that patch next MAY. 1t was
written by c. B. Waldron Of the Far
! 60 Agricultural college and he
iHnows what he is talking about, be-
cause he has experimental with
Strawberries very successfully. Try
| q hundred or Sc of good plants next
May anyway. Take good care of
them, and theE send for the editor
of the Independent In August, put
before us a sample of the berries,
some nice thick rich cream, and
we'll tell you whether you were sue.
cessful or not:
The efforts of strawberry culture
in different parts Of the state have
been sufficient to demonstrate that
this fruit can be grown, with reason
able success, wherever the CON
ditions are made suitable The prime
requisites are:
First, the right varieties.
Second, the proper kind of soil.
Third, protection.
Fourth, Correct methods of culture.
In many localities. the matter of
variety is not of the FIRST Importance
since there are many varieties that
with good conditions are about
equally profitable. Oar eewn >circum-
stances are somewhat different. In
order to succeed we need a plant
that will Withstand heat, cold, and
occasional drouth. This means .
plaat with "a tsrong healthy foliage.
and big vigorous root system IN adj
dition to the essential qualify of
hardness.
The Senator Dunap strawberry
seems to meet these requirements
better than any other that we have
80 far tried. In some locaEties
1t rawberries succeed well on rather
sixht soal. This is where the rainfall
Il abundant or where wat can be
supplied artiicially. In regions
having no greater rainfall than
North Dakota, we select the soil
that is the most retentive OF mois-
tire, This is ardinarily, a good
strong clay loan. It must be borne lt
in mind. however, that soils which |
are too heavy viii bake and pack,
and thus dry out sooner, than soils |
which contain a considerable amount
Of sand. The strawberry is liable to
be domaged by dry hot winds, and
Tor this reason we provide II possible
! shelter of trees upon the south I
and west. 1t takes but three or four
years to grow a pretty good wind
freak OF Russian willows. and in the
meantime rows Of sunfower can be
made to assist. The strawberry bed !,
,hould also have some shelter at the
forth to prevent snow from blowing
Turing the winter time.
Where the rainfall is very abund- L
mt II is possible to grow the plants
lose together. thus obtaining large
,ield. That method Il not . safe
- d North Dahota. ssistiss HE 4