Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1909-12-15

ZIG XXxIu-IN THE BLACKBERRY PATCH.
drained. I'm 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 10 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. IL will then
be easier 20 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 VIII add greatly
10 the size OF the crop Too little at.
tention is given 10 this most important
requisite. Many persons do not seem
10 be aware that the strawberry Is at
all particular about the soil I'm which
Il is put AS q consequence they pre-
pare their beds without any reference
10 this essential factor in the success
OF their enterprise and. OF course. are
doomed TO disappointment I'm 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 plstils. The imper-
feet varieties can produce no fruit un-
less fortified with the pollen from the
flower of perfect variety. Ii is very
important that attention be paid 10
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 hfth row 10 a perfect lowered
variety. This row viii furnish pollen
for the two rows on either side OF It.
In setting out 4 bed In this way care
must be taken 10 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 nurservman 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 a new plant appears and
takes root Only plants less than a
year old 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 fail 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 in rows. In the hill system the
plants are set about three feet apart
The runners are cut of in order to
make a compact. vigorous hill The
size and quality of the berries are he;
ter under the hill system. but the mat