Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-04-14

roll back the corners Of mortgage
quicker than the strawberry bed If
enough be planted so that the whole
family and the neighbors can he en-
ployed, especially In picking time Fit
the ground early in April the same as
for corn. Mark one way as for corn;
then set the plants about sixteen inch
es apart and cultivate as for corn and
hoe whenever there is sign OF weeds
or crusty soil. 1t takes about 1900
plants per acre when set as directed.
When the blossoms appear the first
summer pinch them of. Do not try to
secure fruit from the plants until the
second season.
As cold weather comes on be ready
to give the strawberry field thorough
mulching. II it is done too early the
plants will be smothered and hurt 1t
is not applied altogether as winter
protection, for strawberries are def
ant Of cold 1t is the mulch that equal
ICES alternate freezings and thawings.
which upheave the plants.
The material to use in covering the
beds or rows Of plants Is anything in
the way Of coarse vegetation that is
free from weed seeds. Clean straw
and coarse grass are Of this character
but there may be weeds In the straw
or grass. Timothy hay is always trou-
blesome because Of the seed 1t con-
tains, and coarse manure that has any
considerable proportion OF timothy Is
Objectionable on that account Marsh
grass or cattail flags are free from
anything that is troublesome. The ref
use from sorghum mills can be used
with good results. 1t lies close to the
ground and II not put on too thickly
win serve the purpose Of keeping the
strawberry plants from feeling the
violent changes OF winter, retain the
moisture in the soil and keep the ber-
ries clean the following summer. Corn
stalks, pine needles, tanbark and cot
tonseed huIls can be utilized in this
way.
There is a growing market for goose
berries and bright future for all that
will be raised. This fruit does best
on good sandy loan. Plants should
be set six by eight feet, thus requiring
1910 plants per acre. The first sea
son potatoes. beans or any low grow
ing crop may be planted between the
rows. Give thorough but shallow eul-
tivation. AS to varieties, the Downing
gives. best satisfaction. Buy only ex-
ira good year old plants. Profits are
fully Jas good and often better than
with strawberries. They should bear
some fruit the second year from plant
ing
Blackberries are profitable if rust
does not attck the canes. There seems
to be. no cure for rust. Set the Plants
4 by and give deep culture. We pre-
fer the Kittatinny, as they seem more
hardy than others. Bla'ckberries do
best on lightish and rather sandy
SOIL They must be planted in rows
and kept well cultivated. The prun-
ing of the blackberry is differest from
that of most other small fruits. If
you cut back the canes severely you
are likely TO remove large portion of
the seasons crop. But you can thin
ont the shoots where they are numer-
Gus and cut out the dead shoots.
Red and black raspberries should be
set 9 by g. which will require 1910
plants per acre. These plants must
have shallow culture. as their roots
are all near the surface Many fine
plantations are almost ruined by deep
culture. The crop is profitable when
picked on time and neatly marketed
A grower can pay for his land in sin
gle season with good crop Of berries.
Currants are easy to grow and mar
ket. They pay at the rate Of $500 TO
$500 an acre. The average price should
be So per bushel. and 100 bushels t.
the acre is only a fair crop. Each
currant bush ought to pay 25 to 80
cents above the cost Of picking.