The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-03-22
FARMERS STUDY
STRAWBERRIES
How to Get Best Results from
Berry Fields was Topic at
Saturdays Institute

Judging from the somewhat de-
pleted attendance at the last meet
ing of the the Kennewick Farmers
Institute, the busy season has begun
in real earnest and the waking hours
are all full up strawberry
Culture" was the subject up for dis
cussion and the talks were of an
extemporaneous nature, as the lead
ers appointed were unable to be
present. In absence Of the presi-
dent, Rev. F. L. Fraser, the vice
president, VIM. Engles, took the
chair and opened the meeting.
L. S. Grassland gave report OF
the transactions of the committee
recently appointed by the Yakima
Valley Fruit Growers Association
to confer in North Yakima, last
week, and establish rules for straw
berry packing. This gave the farm
ers opportunity to express their
opinions and some believed that
there should be two grades of berries
instead of one.
Many theories were advanced as
to the relative merits of the hill
system of growing berries and the
matted row, but the majority SEEM
ed to favor a narrow matted row,
not wider than one foot. Mr.. Cross
land keeps his thinned out so that
his beds are a combination of the
hill and matted row system-a
double row, with the plants diagon-
ally placed.
J. F. Perry is in favor of the hill
system and has proved it's value to
his own satisfaction, although it is
said that plants grown in this man
ner are too much exposed to the
wind and for this reason the system
is not popular in this section.
H. w. Desgranges spoke of an
instance he had noted on the High
lands where two strawberry patches
adjoined each other, one an exam
pie of the hill system and the other
showing the matted rows. Super
ior results came from the matted
row patch while tie other was far
under the average in yield and quail
ity. Where the hill system is used
extensively as in the Hood River
Valley. round cutters are used in
cutting the runners from the VINES
and labor greatly reduced. DR..
Hedger, of Kions, is experimenting
with the two systems this year in
the same field and under equal con-
ditions, and his experience is likely
to be valuable to others.
The best land for strawberries is
alfalfa land and the best preparation
for putting in bed is thorough
manuring of the soil. J. F. Perry
has had success with commercial
fertilizer. In cultivating great care
should be taken not to disturb the
berry roots which grow each year
and for this reason it is not safe to
disturb the soil much within 1 or 5
inches of the plant. A good deep
furrow between the rows serves to
keep the moisture in the ground.
The hoe and fve-tooth cultivator
will give satisfactory results when
intelligently applied. The plants
should be set out in the fall and
not allowed to bear the following
spring. In the succeeding spring a
good crop may be expected. Nit
rate of soda. using $50 or 200 pounds
to the acre used Immediately after
blooming time stimulates plant
growth.
There is little to be done for
strawberries in the way of frost pro-
lection as the smoke and he't does
not stay near enough to the ground
to be of much protection to the
plants. Canvas spread over the
plants is an effective shield but inn
practical for any but small beds on
account of the expense and labor
involved.