The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1918-03-14
PROPER CARE FOR
STRAWBERRY BEDS
THE STRAWBERRY THRIvEs BEST
ON A RICH, SANDY LOAN
SOIL.
SOME OF THE BEST VARIETIES
The Use of Both Well Rotted Stable
Manure and Commercial Fertilizer
Recommended.

lnough grown by great many,
there are few people who care for
their strawberry beds as they should
thereby losing the benefits to be de-
rived from a well-caredfor bed. TIL ,
strawberry thrives best on rich,
sandy loan soil but will grow we'll on
any rich, welldrained soil that is not
too stiff. Thorough preparation
which consists Of breaking deeply
and narrowing until the soil is we'll
pulverized cannot be too strongly
stressed. When stable manure is to
be had, II should be broadcasted over
the land and thoroughly worked in
during the preparation.
The use OF both woll-rotted stable
manure and commercial fertilizer is
recommended. The latter should be
complete mixture such as an SD
or home mixture consisting of 200
pounds OF cotton seed meal and 200
pounds Of 16 per cent acid phosphate
An additional application Of nitrate of
soda may be applied in the spring at
the rate Of so to rs pounds per acre
In applying commercial fertilizer a:
least 500 to 1000 pounds per acre
should be applied and this distribute
In the drill where il should be thor.
oughly mixed with the first few inches
Of soil
preparatory to planting strawber.
RES run the rows off as you would
FOR cotton, two and a half to three
feet apart After applying the fer.
ti!izer plant the strawberries on the
level and from fourteen to eightee 4
inches apart in the row All dead
leaves and bruised roots should be re-.
moved before setting and the plants
put in a rather lar~e hole so that the
roots can be we'll spread in setting.
Special care should be taken to pack
the dirt firmly around the roots and
not to cover the crowns with soil
Among some of the best varieties
for the South are the Excelsior. Lady
Thompson tearly varieties); Klon.
dixie. Clyde, and Haverland (mid sea.
SOM; and the Brandywine and Candy
Qate season. The plants do best
when set out in October and Novem.
ber though they are sometimes Sc.
out in the spring. Early fall planting
will give small crop the following
spring. In selecting plants to set out
only use the new plants having strong
root systems. These can easily be
distinguished from the old plants by
their white roots
The cultural method is largely de.
termined by the extent of the plant.
In i'm ir nS
mulching and clean cultivation is rcc.
commended, though either may be
practiced alone. During the first sea.
son, clean culture should be practiccd
At the end OF the first growing season
| all dead and missing plants should b.
reset followed by the brOadcasting
| and working into the soil Of liberal
application OF wellrotted barnyard
manure. Thorough cultivation havin.,
been completed, apply mulch "a lay
! er or to inches IN depth) Of pine
needles, oat straw or similar material !;
| thus retaining the moisture and pro.
J tecting the berries ON grit and sand.
| At the end Of the lar, CT season the
! mulch should be removed or incorpO
/ rated into the soil, his being deter,
mined by the condition G; mulch The
| bed should then be given clean culti.
walton and an application OF fertilizer
and mulched again during the early
! fall The bed is unprofitable after the
third bearing season. Young plants
for the new bed. may be grown by
allowing runners. which form early In
| the season, to take root.
| Horticultural Project. Extension Di
vision, Clemson College. 8. c.