The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-10-22
FIG. xxxIn-N THE BLACKBERRY PATCH.

FIG. XXX1I1-IN THE BLACKBERRY PATCH.
drained, in order that it may warm
up quickly in the spring instead Of
remaining soggy for several weeks and
then baking hard, as undrained soils
are so liable to do.
Deep blowing. with thorough disk
ing and narrowing, is necessary in Or
der to get the land into the best con-
dition. Strawberries should follow
some cultivated crop which has been
kept free from weeds. 1t will then
be easier to prepare the seed bed, and
the patch will be freer from weeds and
insects. Strawberries are particular
in their soil requirements, and little
care in preparation will add greatly
to the size of the crop. Too little at
tention is given to this most important
requisite. Many persons do not seem
to be aware that the strawberry is at
all particular about the soil in which
it is put. AS consequence they pre-
pare their beds without any reference
to this essential factor in the success
Of their enterprise and. of course, are
doomed to disappointment in the out
come.
Varieties of Strawberries.
Varieties of Strawberries are divided
into two general types-the perfect and
the imperfect lowered. The imperfect
contain only the female organs or pis-
ills, while the perfect sorts contain
both stamens and pistis. The imper-
feet varieties can produce no fruit I'M
less fortified with the pollen from the
flower of a perfect variety. 1t is very
important that attention be paid to
this point in planting. Many of the
imperfect sorts possess points of supe-
riority over the perfect varieties. They
can be successfully grown by planting
every fifth row to a perfect Powered
variety. This row will furnish pollen
for the two rows on either side of it.
In setting out bed in this way care
must be taken to see that the two VA
rieties come into bloom at the same
time.
Perfect and imperfect varieties can
not be told apart except when in
bloom. Then the absence of the row
of pistils around the petals marks the
imperfect sorts. Lists of varieties of
strawberries always specify whether
they are perfect or imperfect. A reli-
able nurseryman can be depended upon
TO give you what you ask for. a list
of the varieties best adapted to your
locality can be obtained from your eX-
pertinent station.
The strawberry is propagated almost
entirely by runners. At each joint in
the runner new plant appears and
takes root. Only plants less than a
year cid Should be selected for plant
ing The crown should not be too
large and the roots thick and long.
The presence of large woody roots
and heavy crown indicates that the
plant is an old one. If there are many
leaves it is well to pinch off one or
two of the largest to correspond to
the injury to the root system.
Planting Strawberries.
Spring planting is the most reliable,
but where the fall is moist or the
patch can be readily watered fall plant
ing gives very good results. The two
important points in planting are
spreading the roots and packing the
dirt tightly about them. The plants
should be set so the crowns are just
level with the surface Of the ground.
Hills Versus Matted Rows.
Strawberries are grown both in hills
and I'm rows. Tn the hill system the
plants are set about three feet apart.
The runners are cut off i'm order to
make n compact, vigorous hill. The
size and quality of the berries are bet
ter under the hill SYSTEM but the mat