Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-31
"a series Of articles by F. NJ. Miniken.
practical gardener and h
The Strawberry.


Il have tested 100 kinds OF strawber-
ries and selected one only for field
culture, the Senator Dunlap says
Henry Field, of Shenandoah, Iowa. The
strawberry is the earliest and most de-
licious OF all berries. 1t comes with the
rose and the clover bloom and the bird
songs in glorious June when all Nature
is dressed in her loveliest robes. Like
the grape, 1t grows Wild all over North
Am erica. and is so early to grow that
wonder that anybody would be without
a strawberry bed. commenced nifty
six years ago with the Early Scarlet
and Hovey's Seeding. Now I have
warfield. Bederwood and Dunlap, and
am testing new kinds. Plant all the
many seeds In q strawberry and II they
all grow, every one will produce a new
kind; no two just alike. Ono will per-
haps resemble the parent One out OF
a thousand. perhaps. will be worth
saving. The strawberry has three
kinds Of blossoms-1nale. female. and
perfect. In setting out Stommate and
Pistilate, the male and female plants
must be mixed. Perfect blossoms will
bear fruit when standing alone. Othe,
kinds will not.
This is true Of many kinds Of fruit
plants, and is wonderful study. The
acorn has a hard. tough shell, but a
tiny soft sprout penefrates It at germi-
nation time. The two lobes swell. the
shell opens and the sprout appears
This sprout starts from both lobes OF
the acorn. unites. and again separates
one part going into the ground forming
the roots, while the other part. going
into the air and the sunshine. forms the
top Of the tree. Here p marriage in a
nutshell, without tho possibility Of d.
vorce. Male ana female principles
unite to reproduce. And here is evo-
luton. The chemist can reduce the
acorn. separate the elements and name
and make an acorn. He can not make a
ing ever was or ever can be svoluted,
but what was first involuted. Here il
Duty. Yet men talk Of blind evolu-
tion." blind force, ETC."
But I am getting into deep water. !
must keep near the shore. Every straw
berry grower has his favorite kinds. 30
here are continued mine. Warheld and
Bederwood for early, and Dunlap for
late. We want the very earliest and
the very latest. good kinds. The War
field is pistilate. The Bederwood is
stommate. Plant in alternate rows. The
warlield IL the best for canning be-
cause it holds its color. Looks as well
at Christmas az in June. Both are
early. Begin May 80 and run to July 1.
Dunlap. a perfect blossom. begins June
10 and runs to July T. All three are
strong growers, hold their ground well.
are prolific and Of excellent quality.
Preparation and Setting Out.
Free the ground Of weeds the year
before setting plants and let no weeds
go to seed afterward. Make the ground
thoroughly RICH by using fertilizers
that are free from seeds Set plants in
April Get the roots into the ground
about as they were before dug out.
Take bowl. as large as a saucer, push
IL into the soil. move the earth from
around It. lift the bowl, and you have
a cone. Spread the roots over this
cone. putting ends Of the roots deep in
the furrow. Cover with fns soil and
firm the soil we'll. Dip plants IN water
before setting out. but no watering
after set. For garden. three feet apart:
Tor iieii. ffour Zee. esaec::: =:. II YOU
wish to have matted rows. let the run
ners grow and turn them whore you
want them to root. To grow In hills
pull or all runners, and the plants will