The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-05-18
CBy w. MILTON KELLY.)

There is nothing that needs more
special study and attention than grow
ing fruit for home use. The trouble
now is that nine-tenths of us do not
know how to utilize what nature Of
fers.
know a lot of farmers who have
fine buildings, keep good stock, grow
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 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 it 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 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
~ n Ya1o 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
ty, and winged insects can go from
Hover to flower, that perfect fertiliza-
ton 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 a small fruit,
standing in a class by itself for home
use. It cannot be shipped long dis
tances without being more or less in
iured. 1t is a prolific bearer, and will
yield crops the second year after
planting.
The first year it makes canes, and
the second year fruit. Two or three
long rows across the garden will fur
aish an abundance of this fruit for
sable uses and for canning.
The currant can be grown to great
perfection and large yields can be OBJ
tanned The killing Of the bushes
should be avoided and rather shallow
culture practiced.
The old method still 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
off the top of this stalk close to the
bud to see if the wood is sound and
healthy
If the color is black, or 1t is hollow,
we cut off the end until good live
wood is obtained. Shape the lower
end into a blunt wedge form close to
the bud, which we are careful not to
rub or injure. Rub off every other
bud, except two or three at the top
of the stalk, from which the branches
will start.
These stalks can be thrust into the
ground four to six inches. If this is
done early in the spring the roots
will soon appear at the lower end of
she cutting and a strong, vigorous
bush or tree form will be the result.
Bushes grown in this tree form can
De pruned and cultivated easier than
any other form of growth. When
pruning let three or four branches
grow each year, and after branch
has borne two crops remove 1t.
In this way healthy and well bal
anced top can be sustained for long
time, and it will not become so thick
that only inferior fruit can be pro-
duced.
Gooseberries require an open, airy
situation and clean culture. The tops
must be kept well thinned out, to in
sure good fruit. They should be