Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1877 — Strawberry Culture. [ARTICLE]

Strawberry Culture.

The best noil to produce a food crop of strawberries, is a eavy, sandy loan:, and if possible, a piece should he selected that is not easily effected by the drouth. As early in the spring asthe soil may be in i good working conditinn, plow under a heavy coat of well-rot-ted barn yard manure; harrow fine, and plow light, straight furrows, four feet apart; and set the plants against the land side, about a foot apart, spreading out the roots as much as possible. Set no deeper than they grew before, and make the earth firm about the roots; set none but well rooted young plants; do not set old plants under any circumstances whatever, as it is labor lost to do so. An old plant may be easily told by the roots, which are long, black and wiry, while the roots of young plants are white and fibrous. Cultivate, and hoe frequently, at least often enough to keep out the weeds; it won’t do to let them get the start. When the runnel’s begin to grow, train them along each side of the row, narrowing up the cultivator a little at pvery hoeing, and by fall the plants ought to have covered the ground, except a narrow path every four ieet; late in the fall give a top dressing of fine manure, and a liberal dressing of wood ashes will be found very beneficial. Treated in the above manner, a piece will bear two crops I without further labor, except the annual manuring and covering in winter; it will not usually pay to clean out an old bed, but it is much better to plow up after the second crop and set a new piece. Some growei s advocatesetting plants in the fall, but I would not set at this season even if plants were given to me; nothing whatever is gained,and thedanger of loss is very great; it is claimed that plants set in fall will produce a crop of fruit the first year, and so they will, provided they are not destroyed by the intervening winter, which will be very probable, but plants set in the spring will produce just as good a crop. In either case it is best to pick off the flower stalks and not let them bear the first year; it tends to weaken the plants, and besides, the berries will generally be so covered with dirt as to be of little value. The Green Prolific, Charles Downing and Russell’s Prolific are the most profitable on my soil—a medium sandy loam. The Green Prolific is the most profitable variety I have ever tried; it is a very strong grower, with dark green leaves, and extra prolific, and the fruit is borne on strong, erect stalks. The berry is -of large size, sound, and very uniform and of good flavor. Charles Downing is a vigorous grower, with a large conical berry of the highest flavor, and is very productive, a profitable market sort, and for family use probably has no superior. Russell’s Prolific is also a vigorous grower, and a great bearer, with a berry of large size and fine flavor. Green Prolific and Russell's are pistillate?, and must have about every fifth row set with Charles Do wnin gor both e other staminate variety (pollen bearers) to fertilize the blossoms and ensure a crop. It is passing strange that a fruit which is.so healthful and so easily grown a§ the strawberry, and one which everybody likes, is so little grown for family use, especially among farmers who have plenty of land. A square rod or two, well taken care of, will produce enough to supply any ordinary family with an abundance of this delicious fruit every day through the season, and the cost need be but trifling.— Cor. Mass. Plowman.