The Ordway new era., 1910-01-14
SUCCESS IN BERRIES
10 Be Profitable There Must Be
an Abundance of Water.
In Sections Where There Is a Heavy
Winter Rainfall the Moisture
Can Be Conserved by Proper
Cultivation.

1t is a well-known fact that for
strawberries to succeed they must
have an abundance OF moisture. In
sections where the rainfall Is not suf-
fcient the lack OF moisture may be
supplied by irrigation. In sections
where there Is heavy winter rain
fall the moisture can be conserved
by proper cultivation. 1t is possible
where good cultivation Is combined
with irrigation to make big saving
in the amount of water used. The
two principal methods OF applying
the water are the overhead and ditch
system. The overhead system re-
CURES a pressure Of not less than 40
bounds to do good work. The pip IS
tnat convey the water are placed on
supports at the height OF seven feet.
This allows a man to walk under
meath when cultivating or picking the
fruit. There is a small nozzle to each
foot Of pipe. throwing fine stream OF
water. Each pipe will irrigate about
35 feet on each side. provided there
is no strong breeze blowing. The cost
for the pipe and installing will be
about $75 per acre. The ditch method
is the one most commonly used in
Oregon. Plate 4 shows the water
running between the rows. Where
the rows are wide It Is necessary to
run a furrow down each side Of the
row: narrow rows require only one
ditch. No more water should be used
than is required to wet the soil.
Never allow the water to run through
the field and out into the road or
other fields. The surplus water Is
sure to wash out a large amount Of
soluble plant food. Cultivate the
field as soon as the ground becomes
dry enough to do so without pudding.
This will preventive soil from baking
and conserve the moisture. The mum.
Der OF times the grower will have to
1rrigate will depend on the condition
OF the soil. whether sandy or not. or
whether the field is located in one OF
the semi-arid regions. In the Hood
river district. heretofore. the berry
fields have not been irrigated less
than five times per season. The
grower should irrigate just as often
as the soil needs 1t; keeping the soil
we'll supplied with moisture. especial
ly during the fruiting season. After
the crop Is picked one or two irriga-
tions is sufficient Where the ditch
system is used. the water should be
run the entire length Of the row as
soon as possible. This allows the
plants more nearly an equal amount
Of water. than where 1t is allowed to
run down the row at will. The fur
rows should be deep. and as soon as
the moisture begin to show on the
side of the plant opposite the ditch.
cut on the water. Don't water-log the
soil. When the system Of allowing
the water to run down the row at will
is used the plants near the flume al
ways receive too much water. Where
the overhead system is used all that
is necessary Is to turn the pipe as
the ground becomes sufficiently wa
tered. bringing the water onto new
ground.
The amounts and kinds OF fertiliz-
ers applied to strawberry fields. in a
great measure. depend on what the
past crops were. and also in what
condition the ground was left. AS
has been mentioned above. good
stable manure. well composted. is one
of the best fertilizers that can be ap-
piled to strawberries.
There is always considerable con-
lecture as to what to do with the old
beds Some of the growers NOV
their beds after the crop is harvested,
and rake off and burn the trash. The
bed is then watered and cultivated.
Another irrigation is applied about
August l. A good application of some
commercial fertilizer will aid greatly
in forcing a strong plant growth. Now
is the time that the plants are pre-.
pairing for the next years crop. and
every effort should be made to pro.
duce strong crowns. Double choppers
should be given a short rest after the
first crop is picked. then irrigated and
given the same treatment for the sec.
ond crop as that for the first. Grow.
aers differ as to the length of time a
bed ought to be allowed to bear be,
fore plowing up. 1t seems that many
of the growers fruit their beds too
long. The first and second crops are
the best, and usually after that the
beds. begin to fail. There are some
exceptions to this. however. but 1t is
not the rule.
Some of the most common pests
OF the strawberry are the crown
miner. root-borer. leafroller and leaf
blight. The crown-miner, as the name
suggests, works in the crown of the
plant, following it out and killing the
plant The only effective remedy is
to dig up and burn the plants that
are infested. before May /. BY NOW
ing and burning the bed soon after
the crop is picked the leaf-roller is
held in check. The mildew sometimes
bothers the plants. but can be held in
check by busting with -four of sui
phur.