Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-03-08
BERRY GROWERS
MARION MEETING
WELL ATTENDED
Nearly 200 Growers Hear Blake
more Variety Discussed
By Originator
MARYLAND HAS 5000
ACRES OF BLAKEMORES

The meeting of the Eastern Shore
strawberry growers held at Marion
last Friday, March LIST, was the lar
gest ever held in this section. Grow
ers were present from all sections of
the Eastern Shore of Maryland and
Delaware and Accomack County, Vir-
ginia.
Nearly 200 growers heard DR.. Geo.
M. barrow, of the U. S. Department
discuss the growing of the Blake
more variety which he originated.
DIR. barrow used series of lantern
slides and charts to emphasize the
Importance of spacing Blakemore
strawberry plants, in order to have
strong vigorous plants by Septem-
Der LIST, in order that good setting
of fruit buds could be developed dur
ing September, October and early No
vember.
He stated that the advantages of
not having the plants crowded as
they now are, under the matted row
system, were as follows:
1. The yield has been doubled on
plants spaced 6 to 9 inches in the
row. 2. The largest and best grade
of berries have been obtained, with
smaller percentage Of culls. 8. There
was smaller loss from rot and decay.
a. There was greater drought resist
ance. 8. The increased yield and
improved quality gave the greatest
profit to the crop.
The growing of strawberries under
spaced or thinned out condition as
compared to the matted row, was dis
cussed by ]. E. Long of Denton, a
large grower, who has tried this sys-
tenn for several years with good re-
suits.
A number of the leading straw
berry growers in the Marion section
will try planting a small acreage this
spring according to these recommen-
dations.
It is recognized that weeds are an
important factor in growing fewer
plants in the rows and that it will
require additional labor. However
these growers state that if the yield
can be greatly increased and the per-
centage of number one berries can be
increased, that it will be good bust
mes to increase the cost of growing,
if a larger net profit can be obtained.
In other words if a fewer acres are
planted and the beds are given careful
attention, perhaps the returns would
be larger from the crop. The reduced
acreage would give an opportunity to
improve the soil by sowing cowpeas
would help to keep down the weeds
and after few years, the soil would
be in good condition to be planted to
strawberries.
DR.. Darrow was very well pleased
with the attendance at the meeting
and the interest shown by the growers.
He stated that this was the largest
strawberry grower meeting that he
ever attended in the East and was
only exceeded by several meetings
held by the growers in Oregon.
A. F. Vierheller, of the Maryland
Extension Service, spoke on the out
look for strawberries this season. He
states that there was a reduction of
rs per cent in the acreage to be pick
ed, in the states that compete with.
Maryland and about Is per cent re-
duction for the country as a whole.
Maryland will have about 1000 acres
for picking this season, which is about
per cent reduction from last year.
w. C. Bevan of the Maryland De-
partment of Markets, discussed the
grading of strawberries and the in
spection service which has been in eff
feet for number of years at Marion.
The strawberry meeting was ar
ranged by County Agent c. z. Keller,
who presided and stated that the pur-
pose of calling the Eastern Shore grow
ers together was to consider the best
practices in growing the Blakemore
strawberry which is now the leading
variety and has made Marion the lead
ing Blakemore shipping point in the
East. Maryland last year had about
3400 acres of total of 5000 acres of
Blakemore strawberries in the United
States.