Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1916-01-06
CORN CLUB BOYS
TO GROW BERRIES
New Work Undertaken by
Some of States Alert
Young Farmers.
SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS
Clemson College Has Sent Boys Direc.
tions For Strawberry Culture That
Will Be Useful to Adult Farmers
and Suburban DwelIers as W,II.-
Advice on All Steps, From Prepar.
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
for the summer course. During the
course they were promised that in.
structions for growing Strawberries
would be sent to them in the fall and
the boys expressed themselves az
eager to try small patches Of the
luscious fruit as part of their club
work.
F. ]. 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 in all i'm
portant branches. They will be use
full to any who desire to grow straw
berries and this should include large
number of suburban dwellers as we'll
as farmers. Prof. Crider's directions
are as follows:
Soil for Strawberries. Any kind
except bottom land and stiff clay.
Preparation of Land. Break deep
ly, smooth the surface well, and lay
off rows as for cotton. When ready
to plant, knock the bed down to
level.
FertiIizlng. Fertilize heavily with
stable manure, either broadcast or in
the furrow, before planting Each
fall, just before mulching, apply
broadcast a mixture of about 25O
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 in row
Place plants in rather large Loles
with roots spread apart and pack sol
firmly about them. Keep roots oil
plants moist until planting. Place
name of variety on stake at end OF
row.
Mulching. AS soon as plants are
set, cover ground all about plants with
heavy coating Of pine needles or oat
setraN 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 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 a New Patch. In September
use new plants in setting out 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
off (unless more new plants are
wanted). Repeat this the third sum
mer.
Treatment for Third Fall. Plow W
your old strawberry patch. Straw
berry plants will not produce desir
able berries after the third crop.
Gathering Fruit. Pinch berriei
from stalks without bruising, leaving
stems on. Go over patch every other
day. sometimes every day. Pick ber
lics when they are red, while yet
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 marketed)
In q 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 - 10 the crate and see to it
that they are neat and clean. Get
prices on crates and baskets from
manufacturers aud have supplies reach
| you in ample time.
/ Arrangement Of Berries in Basket.
Have every basket we'll filled and ar.
range the berries on top In rows
| Carry baskets to market in neatly
packed crates They will command
ottention and brtry the highest prices,