Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1915-12-30
New Work Undertaken by
Some of States Alert
Young Farmers.
SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS

and Suburban DwelIers az WeII.-
Advice on All Steps, From Prspar.
ing Soil to Packing Crates.
Eighty South Carolina corn club
boys, eighty OF the best in the State.
are adding strawberry culture to
their work. These are the boys who
by their corn club work last year,
won scholarships to Clemson College
Tor the summer course. During the
course they were promised that in.
structions for growing Strawberries
would be sent to them I'm the fall and
the boys expressed themselves az
eager to try small patches OF the
luscious fruit az part OF their club
work.
b. J. Crider, associate professor OF
horticulture at Clemson College. has
prepared and sent the boys a set OF
instructions for strawberry culture.
These instructions are simple and
brief, but cover the subject I'm all i'm.
portant branches. They will be use.
ful to any who desire to grow straw.
berries and this should include large
number OF suburban dwellers as well
as farmers. Prof. Crider's directions
are as follows:
Soil for Strawberries. Any kind
except bottom land and stirr CLAW
Preparation Of Land. Break deem.
- smooth the surface well, and lay
on rows as for cotton. When ready
to plant, knock the bed down TO a
level
FertiIizing. Fertilize heavily with
stable manure. either broadcast or in
the furrow, before planting. Each
fall. just before mulching, apply
broadcast a mixture OF about $50
pounds cottonseed meal, 400 pounds
kainit, and $50 pounds acid phosphate,
these being the amounts per acre.
Setting Plants. Set plants IN
straight line. Is inches apart I'm row
Place plants in rather large holes
with roots spread apart and pack soil
hrmly about them. Keep roots OF
plants moist until planting. Place
name OF variety on stake at end o.
row.
Muichino. AS soon az plants are
set. cover ground all about plants with
heavy coating OF pine needles or oat
straw. This holds moisture and
Keeps berries clean in spring. Apply
this mulch each year thereafter In
September.
Cuitivating. Begin cultivation just
after berries are gathered. Cultivate
as for cotton, keeping a loose layer
OF soil on top and all weeds and grass
removed.
Treatment Of Runners First Sum.
mer. Let runners take root along
rows so as to get plants for a new
patch.
Setting New Patch. In September
use new plants in setting out a new
patch. following same method as be.
fore.
Treatment for Second Summer.
Give same treatment as first summer.
except that all runners must be cut
on (unless more new plants are
wanted). Repeat this the third sum.
mer.
Treatment for Third Fall. Plow up
your old strawberry patch. Straw.
berry plants will not produce desI-.
able berries after the third crop.
Gathering Fruit. Pinch berries
from stalks without bruising, leaving
stems on. Go over patch every other
day. sometimes every day. Pick Der.
ries when they are rcd. while vet
firm. Gather in standard quart straw.
berry baskets. The basket is sold
with the berries
Sorting. While picking. place the
larger berries In one basket, the Sec
ond size in another. and the smallest
size (which should not be markcted)
In third. This is very important.
Naming the Grades. Name the first
grade Extra Fancy" and the second
grade Fancy" Write name of grade,
variety. and your own name on each
basket. Use quart size strawberry
baskets. 80 to the crate. and see to It
that hey are neat and clean. Get
prieesS on crates and baskets from
manufacturers and have supplies reach
you in ample time.
Arrangement Of Berries In Basket.
Have every basket well filed and ar
range the berries on top I'm rows.
Carry baskets to market In neatly
packed crates. They will command
attention and bring the highest prices.