The state herald., 1915-05-14
CBy W. MILTON KELLY)

| ing fruit Tor home use. The trouble
now is that nine-tenths of us do not
know how to utilize what nature of.
fers.
l know lot OF farmers who have
large crops. without having any con-
ception of home and home life.
What we need on our farms is bet.
ter homes. We cannot do anything
that will improve our homes more
than growing an abundance of choice
fruit for home use. Every farmers
garden should have a strawberry bed.
that the table may be supplied with
this fruit fresh and have a surplus
for the cans and jelly tumblers.
The best way to secure plants is to
have trial beds set with the leading
varieties. In this way 1t is easy to
determine the relative merits of the
different varieties. and grow vigorous
plants for the next years beds.
There is no danger of losing plants
when they can be taken from the trial
beds and removed to the garden rows.
but when coming from a long distance
they are apt to heat, and very few
can be saved
When received by mail or express,
they should be opened at once. the
roots shortened about one-third with
a sharp knife, and the plants spread
loosely in a cool. damp place. or in
water in which soil has been mixed
No imperfect plants should be set.
Side runners frequently appear be-
tween the sets. and pursue the same
course OF establishing plants as the
main runners. They are little better
than weeds. BY setting out only the
best plants the beds will not run out
In setting plants. give them plenty
OF room. so the air can circulate free
ly. and winged insects can go from
flower to flower. that perfect fertiliza-
tion may be obtained. and enable the
hoe and cultivator to work among the
plants. and work into the soil quickly
available fertilizers.
After the fruiting season arrives.
there will be better chance to place
the mulching between the rows and
about the plants. for the double pur-
pose OF protecting the berries from
dirt and retaining moisture for the
plants. for In the fruiting season the
plants must have plenty OF water to
give the best results
The strawberry should be more
widely cultivated among farmers. who.
with plenty Of land and dressing.
seem TO have no excuse for not hav-
ing their tables well supplied with this
appetizing berry.
The raspberry is small fruit.
standing In class by itself for home
use. II cannot be shipped long dis
tances without being more or less In
iured II is n prolific bearer. and will
yield crops the second year after
planting.
The frst year II makes canes. and
the second year fruit Two or three
long rows across the garden will fur
nish nm abundance of this fruit for
table uses and for canning.
The currant can be grown TO great
perfection and large yields can be OBJ.
tained. The hiliing OF the bushes
should be avoided and rather shallow
culture practioed.
The old method ntill recommends
itself to me as the best way to prop.
agate the currant. We take the
largest and strongest stalks OF one
years growth from the bush and cut
on tho top OF this stalk close TO tho
bud TO see n the wood Ia sound and
healthy.
II the color is black. or II is hollow.
We cut on the end until good live
wood is obtained. Shape the lower
end into blunt wedge form close 10
tho bud, which we are careful not TO
rub or injurc. Rub on every other
bud. except two or three nj the top
OF the stalk. from which the branches
will start.
These stalks can be thrust into the
ground four to six inches. II this Ia
done early In the spring the roots
will soon appear Mt the lower end OF
tho cutting and a strong. vigorous
bush or tree form will be the result.
Bushes grown In this tree form can
be pruncd and cultivated easier than
any other form OF growth. When
pruning let three or four branches
grow each year. and after n branch
has borne two crops remove H.
In this way healthy and well bal
anocd TOP can bc sustained for long
time, and II win not become no thick
that only inferior fruit can be pro
duced,
Goopeberries require mn open. airy
situation and clean culture, The tops
must be kept well ,hlnned out, TO In
nuro rood ffuit, They should be