The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1911-11-18

plants for the following years fruit
crop. The cultivation of strawberry
plants set in spring should be begun
few weeks after planting The
same cultivator, sweep and harrow
used with garden crops will do the
work required nicely between the
rows. A four TO six-tined potato fork
and light sharp hoe are the only
tools needed to keep the soil along
the line of the rows in proper condi-
ton. AS the vines attain only few
inches in height more care must be
taken in cultivating near the rows
than with taller plants. 1t is safe to
say that the cultivation of strawber-
rles during the entire year need not
cost as much as the same area In
garden vegetables. AS a rule horse
implements may be laid aside about
November l, and cultivation discon-
tinued until the end of the fruit har-
vest the following spring. Any grass
Or weeds that interfere with the
plants during the winter or spring
months may be cut away with sharp
hoes or be weeded out by hand Re.
sumo cultivation as soon as possible
after the fruit harvest. Begin work
by barring off" the rows with a
sharp one-horse turn pillow reducing
the matted row to a strip of plants
not wider than six to eight inches
In the bottom of the turnplow furrow
run sub-soiler stirring the soil as
deep as the strength of your best
mule will permit Follow the sub.
sol, pillow with spike-toothed harrow
well weighted, to level and pulverize
the soil in the space between the
rows. Sharp hoes should follow, clean
ing weeds and grass from the drill and
reducing plants to stand. From
this time forward to the end of the
season cultivation is the same as for
the first year.
On new paintings runners make
their appearance early in the spring.
If the soil is in nice condition the
newlyformed plants on these straw
like appendages will root rapidly when
brought in contact with the surface.
The ideal stand for the matted row
is one in which plants are so dis
tributed over a fifteen to eighteen
inch strip along the top of the row
that each plant will be six to eight
inches from it's nearest nefghbor. The
first and best runner should be SO
placed as to secure the best stand.
Any surplus plants should be treated
as so many weeds.
Where fertilizers respond nicely to
garden and field crops we may expect
good results from the same fertilizers
applied to the strawberries. A light
dressing of barnyard manure applied
to the surface along the top of the
row during early winter is an ideal
fertilizer In the absence of such
manure equal parts by weight OF cot
tonseed meal and high-grade acid
phosphate, applied at the rate of 500
to 1000 pounds per acre will usually
supply the needed plant food. On
sandy soils, especially in South Mis-
sissippi, 100 to 200 pounds per acre
of kainit may be added. When u.s.
ing commercial fertilizer in the guam
tity suggested it is best to make two
or three applications during the year;
the first during the spring with young
paintings, or at the first working after
harvest with older beds; the second
the latter part of the summer, and the
&l,ir.J I,,r{,,e Dooovnhnr
No matter how large or how fine,
nothing SO Injuries the taste and sale
of strawberries as sand or soil adher-
ing to the fruit; hence, the good rea-
son for carefully mulching the entire
planting where pine needles. oat or
wheat straws, old hay. half-rotted
leaves, and such material may be had
at small cost.
Picking season begins about one
month from the date of the last kill
ing frost. Near the gulf berries fire.
quently begin to ripen during the lat
ter part of February. In the middle
and northern sections of the state
harvest begins April 1 to Is. Gath
ering period may last from four to
twelve weeks; and, as a rule. is OF
longer duration near the gulf than
farther north.
The greater the care in gathering
and handling the fruit, the longer it
will keep in good condition. In pick
ing slip the thumb and first finger be-
low each berry and pinch off with
about one inch Of stem. Handle the
fruit as little as possible and keep
in a cool place until ready for ship
ment or use at home.
Remember the strawberries and
the other fruits mentioned in this
bulletin should be regarded as a
necessity, not a luxury; that the best
ruit market on earth is found at
your own table; that the best straw
berries ever favored with jersey
cream or frosted sugar may be grown
ut small cost in your own garden;
and that such fruits are not too good
for the members OF your household.
No. 146 Mississippi EXP.
Stations.
Hood Qoodc Puftofin