The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1921-09-07
STRAWBERRY CULTURE

Clemson College, ( Sept. 5.-The
strawberry is probably the most GER
tain small fruit that can be grown
in this state; it is rarely injured by
frost and if properly fertilized and
cultivated, good crop may be Sc
berry grows we'll on almost any type
Of we'll drained soil, sandy loan is
the best.
Fall planting is better than spring
planting, as there is less danger Of
the plants dying when transplanting
in October and November than in
March or April according to the
Clemson horticulturists. When
planted in early fall strawberries will
produce few berries the following
spring, but not enough for marketing
early spring they will, produce very
few berries that spring,I but the fol-.
lowing spring a maximum crop will
be produced 1t is customary to al
low the strawberry field to STAND from
three to four yearS,-three or four
crops being harvested. If the plants
are properly cultivated and kept in
single crowns, the field will remain
in profitable condition longer than it
will if the plants are allowed to
fo1m i'll masses along the row.
Select land that is we'll adapted to
Strawberries plow5to a depth of 8
to 10 inches, and harrow repeatedly
until absolutely free from clods.
Lay off rows'3 feet wide. Apply fer
tilizer in the. drill, 600 to 800 pounds
per acre, and mix with the soil.
Then set the plants eighteen inches
apart in this furrow, taking the great
est care to see that the buds are not
placed, below the general surface Of
the soil But III order that the plants
be placed deep enough in the ground
they should be placed one-half to one
inch deeper than they stood in the
nursery row, and the soil should be
firmly packed about the roots. If
the soil is moist when the plants are
set out, ther' is no necessity of
watering; in case water is applied,
about one pint to each plant will be
sufficient, the wet soil being i'm
nediately covered with dry soil in
order to perevent baking.
A good fertilizer for strawberries
on sandy loan soil IS one that will
analyze 8 percent phosphoric acid,
4 percent nitrogen, and percent
potash.
Cultivation should begin about two
weeks after the plants are set in order
to destroy any fall weeds that may
appear. The strawberry grows we'll
during the fall months and for that
reason it is very necessary to culti-
vate during October and November
N is at this season that the straw
Berry produces embryo fruit buds,
which appear in the early spring and
produce berries. In March or early
fertilizer should be made the amount
depending upon the growth the plants
are making-the usual amount be-
ing 400 to 600 pounds per acre.
Cultivate absolutely clean through
out the spring, summer, and fall.
For local market the Excelsior is
probably the best extra early berry,
and the Lady Thompson the best
general purposes berry where a heavy
yield is desired. The Excelsior ripens
about ten days before the Lady
Thompson, but the berries are smaller
and the yield is not SO large. For
commercial purposes, where the bcr-
l'ies are to be shipped to distant mar
kets, the Klondyke is probably the
best variety to plant, on account OF
the fact That it stands shipment bet
ter than the other varieties named.
There are a great many other good
varieties, but the ones mentioned
above will meet all requirements for
nome use, local market, and shipping
purposes
Two distinct methods are practic-
ed in growing berries. One is to re-
move the runners as fast as they ap-
pear, leaving only the original plants;
the other is to allow the runners to
form new plants along the row,
gradually forming n narrow matted
bed. If berries Of the highest tyne
are desired. the former method is
best; if quantity rather than quality
is desired, then the narrow matted
row should be employed. Most
growers make the mistake of allow
ing their beds to grow up in weeds
after harvest, which greatly reduces
the quality Of the next seasons crop
When strawberries arc grown on a
comparatively small scale. it will pay
to mulch the plants heavily with pine
straw, or partially dcrnmposcd
leaves oat or wheat straw. This ma
terial should be scattered about
three to four inches between the
rows, leaving only the tops of the
plants exposed. The best time to ap-
ply this mulch is in The fall immcd-
lately after cultivation. The mulch
will conserve the moisture and pre-
vent the berries from becoming
gritty after rains. The yield of first
class berries from an acre of mulchcd
berries will be approximately one
third more than from an unmulched
area. An ccre of Strawberries prop
erly cared for. will produce on an
average 5000 to 1000 quarts twelve
ntonths after planting.
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