The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-06-11

or less above the surface of the
ground, many of the fine feeding roots
having been broken in the process.
The contest with the elements over
the plants in the unprotected straw
berry bed will present every degree of
vitality except that of a plant in per
feet health.
The plants of an unprotected straw
berry bed will make as brave show
ing as their unimpaired vitality will
permit, but results as measured by the
harvest will be very disappointing
when compared with those secured
from 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 mulcbing operations
are begun as soon as freezing wealth
er sets in-in our latitude about 43
degrees, that is about November 1.
Whether the material used is straw,
marsh-hay, corn stalks, or forest
leaves, good results will be secured
if properly applied.
The quantity that should be applied
varies somewhat. In one article that
! read not long since, a writer recon-
mended eight inches of settled straw.
There are conditions under which
a 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 condi-
ton, is almost sure to result disas-
trously.
The finer the material, the closer
it will settle, and consequently the
greater the harm likely to be done.
The coarser the material used the
better; for there is sufficient circula-
ton of air to supply the needs of the
plant, yet the sunlight is excluded.
have received reports from grow
ers in which it was claimed that a
much had proved ruinous to straw
berry plants. However, If the entire
circumstances relating to such in
stances we're fully known, am conf
dent it would be found that either
improper material had been used or
improperly applied, perhaps both.
The straw or chaff should be used
sparingly, in amount sufficient to pre-
clude the direct rays of light only.
A blanket of snow makes the very
best sort of protection, as it permits
a free circulation of air, even when it
packs in hard drift several inches
in thickness.
This being true, 1t is wise plan,
whenever possible, to establish the
strawberry bed where it will have the
benefit of windbreak of some sort.
In ATTITUDES where there are large
snowfalls, it will even pay to build
an artificial windbreak of some sort,
if needed, to prevent the winds sweep
ing the ground bare of snow.
In our latitude light. covering OF
straw answers every purpose re-
quired for the winter mulch, as this
is always supplemented by a snow
blanket, making an ideal combina-
ton.
It is not generally thought that ex-
cessive freezing of the ground is in
furious to the plants, yet we have al
ways had the best results when the
ground has been held unfrozen
throughout the entire period of plant
dormancy.
It seems strange to me now, that
so many strawberry growers have
their beds without protection, there
by discounting largely the results due
at harvest.
Yet 1t is not 80 very strange, after
all. Many of us go through life with
the minds eye half closed to the
things about us. It 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
account be neglected If the most high
ly satisfactory results are to be OBJ
tanned.