Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-13
STRAWBERRY CULTURE
Il the PINE TREE STATE

address given by state t1ortieui.
turist, George A. Ysaton before
K,nnsbee Pomona Grange, at Gar.
diner, March 1o.)
In Maine we have one Of the best
r.rkets for small fruits in the coun-
wv IN our summer colonies, sporting
camps and boys and girls camps,
"a say nothing about the summer
botels and boarding houses scattered
ali over our state. We are not pro-
ducins more than $3.50 of the berries
that are consumed in the State Of
Maine. the 1870 is being brought in
from other sections of the country.
We are not only paying high price
tor the fruit, but the express on 1t
as WELL This is radically wrong.
We ought to be growing this fruit on
the farms of Maine and keeping the
money that is being paid out for
n at home.
For the local market and for
family use we may grow some OF the
sarljer varieties, but for the main
crop we should plant the medium to
late varieties so that we may ship
commensurate for the dollars that were
Maid for those that came to US be-
fore 1t was possible to ripen them
within Gus borders.
Everyone who has a garden should
crow at least what strawberries they
SSeo,,ire. both for fresh fruit and
enough to can for the winter supply.
In selecting varieties for the home
GARDEN one should have two essential
CHARACTERISTICS in mind. First of all
should be quality, and next the
rarieties that will give a long sue
cession of ripening, and this can be
on MANNED that we may have this
fr,it from early summer until the
nlants freeze in late fall. The ever
hearing will produce even after the
Ground begins freezing. Those grow
ing berries in the home garden should
remember that to get the most
satisfaction and profit out of them
thew must give the plot intensive
culture.
The most important thing is the
nreparation of the soil and this
should be done very thoroughly,
cleaning out all Of the witchgrass
and other noxious weeds, and it can
he accomplished more successfully
bv applying a liberal amount of
stable manure. Would suggest that
YOU use at least 10 cords to the acre.
this to be ploughed under about
inches deep. and thoroughly disc
the soil to get as good a seed bed
as is possible. Then sow Japenese
Millett and when that has reached
the poisoning stage, put the land
roller on and break this all down
and plough it under. This will give
large amount of humus in the
soil which will hold the water to
develop the berries and produce the
largest possible crop.
The field should be laid out. the
rows 4 feet apart and the plants Is
inches in the hill. All weeds should
be kept out as they will compete
with the plants, for the moisture and
fertilizer. We have found that the
variety Howard No. II has given us
the best crop of any that has been
tried in this section of the state ana
by taking proper care of them we
can reasonably expect from 5000 to
1000 quarts per acre. This Will give
US very good profit and the largest
returns for our labor. Any crop
that we can grow has always a
good market for Fancy Berries ana
ours coming in after the Massachu-
sets berries are off from the market
We have but very little competition
from outside.