The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-12-29
CORN CLUB BOYS
/, TO GROW BERRIES
New Work Undertaken by
Some of States Alert
l. Young Farmers.
SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS

Clemson College Has Sent Boys Direc.
tIons For Strawberry Culture That
Will Be Useful to Adult Farmers
and Suburban DweIIers as WeIl.-
Advice on All Steps, From Prepar
ing Soil to Packing Crates.
Eighty South Carolina corn club
boys, eighty Of the best in the State
are adding strawberry culture to
their work. These are the boys who
by their corn club work last year
won scholarships to Clemson College
Tor the summer course. During the
course they were promised that in
structions for growing strawberries
would be sent to them In the fall and
the boys expressed themselves as
eager to try small patches Of the
luscious fruit as part Of their club
work.
F. ]. Crider, associate professor OF
horticulture at Clemson College, has
prepared and sent the boys 6. set OF
instructions for strawberry culture
Ihese 1nstructicls are simple and
brief, but cover the subject in all i'm
portant branches. They will be use
full to any who desire to grow straw
berries and this should include large
number Of suburban dwellers as well
as farmers. Prof. Orders directions
are as follows:
Soil for Strawberries. Any kind
except bottom land and stiff clay.
Preparation Of Land. Break deep
~, smooth the surface we'll, and lay
OF rows as for cotton. When ready
TO plant, knock the bed down to q
level.
FertlIzlng. Fertilize heavily with
stable manure, either broadcast or in
the furrow, before planting. Each
fall, just before mulchng, apply
broadcast a mixture of about 25C
pounds cottonseed meal, 400 pounds
kainit, and ESQ pounds acid phosphate
these being the amounts per acre.
Setting Plants. Set plants liz
straight line, 18 inches apart in row
Place plants in rather large hole.
with roots spread apart and pack soil
firmly about them. Keep roots OF
plants moist until planting. Place
name Of variety on a stake at end OF
row.
Mulching. AS soon as plants are
set, cover ground all about plants with
heavy coating Of pine needles or oat
straw. This holds moisture and
keeps berries clean in spring. Apply
this mulch each year thereafter in
September
CuItivating. Begin cultivation Just
after berries are gathered. Cultivate
as for cotton, keeping a loose layer
of soil on top and all weeds and grass
removed.
Treatment Of Runners First Sum
mer. Let runners take root alone
rows so as to get plants for a new
patch.
Setting a New Patch. In September
use new plants in setting out a new
patch. following same method as be-
fore.
Treatment for Second Summer.
Give same treatment as first summer.
except that all runners must be cut
off (unless more new plants are
wanted). Repeat this the third sum.
,mer.
Treatment for Third Fall. Plow uu
your old strawberry patch. Straw.
berry plants will not produce desir.
able berries after the third crop.
Gathering Fruit. Pinch berries
from stalks without bruising, leavina
stems on. Go over patch every other
day, sometimes every day. Pick ber
ries when they are red. while yet
firm. Gather in standard quart straw
berry baskets. The basket is sold
with the berries.
Sorting. While picking, place the
larger berries in one basket. the sec
ond size in another and the smallest
size (Which should not be marketed)
in third. This is very important
Naming the Grades. Name the first
grade Extra Fancy" and the second
grade Fancy" Write name of grade.
variety, and your own name on each
basket Use quart size strawberry
baskets, 81 to the crate, and see to il
that they are neat and clean. Get
prices on crates and baskets from
manufacturers and have supplies reach
you In ample time.
Arrangement of BerrIes In Basket.
Have every basket we'll filed and ar.
range the berries on top in rows.
Carry baskets to market in neatly
packed crates. They will command
attention and bring the highest prices,
DRAGGING WITH AUTO