The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-12-07

strawberry bed will present every de-
gree of vitality except that of a plant
in perfect health.
The plants of an unprotected straw
berry bed will make as brave a show
ing as their impaired vitality will per-
| nit, but results as measured by the
harvest will be very disappointing
when compared with those secured
from a bed of plants that have been
given the proper protection.
The remedy then, or preventive,
rather, is the winter mulch.
What shall we use, and when best
applied?
In our own work any material that
is convenient is made to serve the
purpose, and the mulching operations
are begun as soon as freezing weather
sets in.
Whether the material used is straw,
marsh hay, cornstalks, or forest
leaves, good results will be secured if
properly applied.
The quantity that should be applied
l read not long since a writer recon-
mended eight inches of settled straw.
There are conditions under which
mulch of that depth would mean dis
astrous results.
In our opinion, one inch of the set
tied straw will afford ample protec-
ton in most instances. If the ground
is frozen hard at the time, thick
mulch may be applied with safety, but
the placing of several inches of straw
or other material over plants when the
ground is in an unfrozen condition is
almost sure to result disastrously.
The finer the material the finer it
will settle, and consequently the
greater the harm likely to be done.
The coarser the material used the bet
ter, for then there is sufficient circu-
lation of air to supply the needs of
the plant, yet the sunlight is excluded.
I have received reports from grow
ers, in which it was claimed that a
mulch had proved ruinous to straw
berry plants. However, if the entire
circumstances relating to such in
stances were fully known, l am con-
fident it would be found that either
improper material had been used or
improperly applied, perhaps both.
The straw or chaff should be used
sparingly, an amount sufficient to ex-
clude the direct rays of light only.
A blanket of snow makes the very
best sort of protection, as it permits
the free circulation of air, even when
it packs in a hard drift several feet in
thickness.
This being true, it is wise plan,
whenever possible, to establish the
strawberry bed where it will have the
benefit of a windbreak of some sort.
In ATTITUDES where there are large
snowfalls, it will even pay to erect
an artificial windbreak of some sort,
if needed, to prevent the winds sweep
ing the ground bare of snow
In our latitude, a light covering of
straw answers every purpose required
for the winter mulch, as this is al
ways supplemented by snow blanket,
making an ideal combination.
II Is not S0u0Tdlly thought THAT 0X-
cessive freezing of the ground is in
furious to the plants, yet we have
always had the best results when the
ground has been held unfrozen
throughout the entire period Of plant
dormancy.
1t seems strange to me now that so
many strawberry growers have their
beds without protection, thereby dis
counting largely the results due at
harvest.
Yet it is not SO very strange after
all. Many of us go through life with
the minds eye half closed to the
things about it. 1t took several years
of costly experience to convince the
writer that the winter mulch is an
important factor in strawberry grow
ing and that the work must on no &C.
count be neglected if the most highly
satisfactory results are to be obtained