Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-11-16

Settlers should follow Immediately be-
hind the troopers. Care should be
taken to spread out the roots of each
plant in their natural position and to
work finely pulverized soil in among
them with the hand. The soil should
be firmly pressed over the roots. In no
case should the crowns or center
buds rest below the surface Of the
ground.
Cultivation required for strawber-
ries does not differ materially from
that given the average garden vege-
table or nicely treated corn or cot
ton crop. Differences In latitude,
soils, seasons, etc, render 1t neces'
sary to vary general rules to suit ex-
listing conditions. The object Of the
first seasons treatment is to devel-
op a perfect stand Of strong, vigorous
plants for the following years fruit
crop. The cultivation of strawberry
plants set in spring should be begun
a 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-
tion. AS the vines attain only a few
inches in height more care must be
taken in c~ultlvating' neal the rows
than with taller plants. 1t is safe to
say that the cultivation Of strawber-
sries 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 1, 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 of" 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 a sub-soiler stirring the soil as
deep as the strength of your best
mule will permit. Follow the sub
soil pillow with a spike-toothed harrow
we'll weighted, to level and ~pulverlze
the soil in the space between the
rows. Sharp hoes should follow, clean
ing weeds and grass from the drill and
reducing plants to o stand. From
this time forward to the end Of the
season cultivation ia the same as for
the first year.
On new paintings runners make
their appearance early in the spring.
II the soil Is In nice condition the
newly-formed plants on these stray
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 its nearest neighbor. 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.
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.
Remember the strawberries and
the other fruits mentioned In this
bulletin should be regarded as a
necessity, not a luxury; that the best
fruit market on earth is found at
your own table; that the best straw
berries aver favored with jersey
cream or frosted sugar may be grown
at small cost in your own garden;
and that such fruits are not too good
for the members of your household.
Bulletin No. 146 Mississippi Exp
Ctatipno