Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-23
THE STRAWBERRY BED

Whether 1t pays TO keep a straw
berry bed the second year is often
a real question. especially if weeds
have gained control. Usually it is
easier to plant new bed each Spring
than it is to keep an old bed in
good condition. In fact. many of the
commercial growers make 1t an IN.
variable practice to plant new bed
annually. realizing that the finest per
ries are obtained the first frultinS
year. However, Il one desires to
keep the bed it becomes necessary
to give it special treatment following
fruiting. The plant rows should be
narrowed down to a foot or less by
spading the soil between the rows
and ralzinc out whatever plants re
cut off in the operation. This 81 !
be followed by a thorough Wol
of the soil and an application OF
manure or of good commercial Ter
tilizer at the rate of one pound 10
35 or 40 square feet of space. Inc
interrow spaces should be Kept I'M
der cultivation until the new runner
plants begin to push out into TINS
area.
1t was at one time customary TO
NOW the old bed after frultlng, set
ting fire to the Stubble and dfleu
leaves, but this procedure is not With
out danger to the plants. About the
only benefit was the partial control
of leaf spot, an object which can be
attained far more successfully by
spraying with Bordeaux mixture.
Some of the newer varieties, such as
the highly esteemed Howard II or
Premier. are quite resistant TO leaf
spot and thrive without spraying
Probably for the home gardener It
is best to start a new berry bed
early each Spring, taking strong
young plants from the fruiting bed
Following fruiting, the old bed may
be spaded up and used for bush beans
or late potatoes
Yellow Transparent Apple.
Just prior to 1870 severe cold Win
ters destroyed a great many of the
apple orchards of the Northern Central
States. In an effort to secure harder
varieties for replacement the United
States Department of Agriculture I'M
ported a great number OF varieties
from Russia, but, unfortunately. most
Of them were so poor in quality as to
be practically worthless. The yellow
Transparent was a notable exception,
and is about the only one of the
mann Russian importationS to have
SOOO-
The Yellow Transparent owes its
DC ularity largely to the fact that Ii
ripens 1t a season when the markets
are practically empty of apples. For
this reason and the fact that it comes
into fruiting at an early age, the yell
low Transparent is a good variety for
the home garden. Furthermore the
horticulturists of the Maryland Agri-
cultural Experiment Station in their
studies of fruit setting in apples found
Yellow Transparent to be self fertile,
showing that it may be planted by it,
self.
Another point in favor of this va
riety is that the trees usually bear
annual crops of fruit. The tree is
subject to fire blight. but the presence
Of many vigorous Transparent trees
about the suburbs indicates a reason
able chance of survival. The fruit IS
of best quality when used just as it
reache: a bright whitish yellow color
e.ld is still firm and crisp. Upon fun
maturity it becomes soft and mellow
and lacking in flavor. The habit OF
ripening over two or three week
period is an asset in the home garden,