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Show HORTICULTURE ' 9i STRAWBERRY CULTURE. , Ira Anderson, B. Y. ,fU. The strawberry, as how cultivated, is a comparatively new fruit. Having been bred up from the small, wild varctyyjt has been on the market for only about 75 years.. It is one of the most delicious of fruits and is very easily grown. It ought to be raised in every family garden Where cultivated in large quantities -it is one of the most profitable of fruit crops. The first step in strawberry culture is the choice of variety. Some varieties varie-ties do better in certain localities than others. It is therefore well to find out which variety is best suited for any particular place. The Wilson Wil-son is one of the oldest kind, having hav-ing been cnvolvcd directly from the small, wild berry. The Bjutbank, the Hood River, the Senator' Twnlap and the Jocundy arc all excellent berries. The last namiedi is well adapted for growing in Utah county. Almost any soil that will-grow potatoes po-tatoes or corn, will grow .strawberries. .strawber-ries. Moreover, the strawberry will grow where com will not, for the cold nights do not affect it-. A dark, rich,asandy loam, rather damp, but notwcl is an ideal soil. The richer the loam, the larger the crop will be. The soil must also be well drained. Good surface drainage should be secured. se-cured. If it is wet, undcrdrainagc must also be resorted to. The ground should have a coating of about 20 loads of well rotted manure to the acre, in the fall. This should be plowed in deeply, and the ground sub-soiled, and leveled. . jy v v It is still a question among strawberry straw-berry growers as to when ist the proper pro-per time to plant spring or fall. The spring planting, however, seems to have the preference among many. ,Thc next step is tjiersctting out of '' 'the plants. These ' shotild be taken from a bed set the .previous season, if possible. Take a common six-tincd fork and dig up a forkful of the matted mat-ted plants, taking only the runners of the previous years growth. Remove all injured or decayed matter, and also about onc4hird off from the ends of remaining roots. After the plants have liecn dug, they f should be protected ' from the rays I of the sun, for that,-would ruin them. "I The plants are sett in rows two feet apart each way. After the marking S is done, drop a plant at each cross- !H ingl The plant scttcrsMJolow andH put them in -plarqe. " "fl Thjs is done by taking the plant in the left hand, and spr ading the fl roots fan-shapp. With the right hand -fl mtke an opening, and put the plant inflacc, being careful to spread the H roots well. Cover with earth almost to the crown and then press firmly. :M If the soil is dry and warm, put a M little water in the hole previous to M covering. 1 , H After the plants have been set out fl they willf need cultivating quite often flj the firstfycar, and every year there- WM after, early in the spring and after the m crop; has been harvested. f weeds- --B should be 'kept down. Finch off all fl blossoms that appear the first year, for at that time the plants have not strength cnoughto bear About June the runners will hayc started to grow. m These should be trained to go in all directions if rom the parent plant. It M is necessary to train them, otherwise they may all grow on onetsidc. There is nothing much tosdo nov-J until freezing weather comes on. Jj Then -the plants shoiild be covered L with about two inches o:f straw, or L hay. This can be raked off in the J spring, and used again the next fall. J In cold climates it is necessary to do this, so as to protect'them from the j various changes occuring during winter win-ter ami spring. A home market is always preferable, prefer-able, if such can be had at advantage. ; 1 rdwever, .by the icold storage system , it is, possible to ship berries a great . distance at a profit. It is always well to put the berries in as good condition condi-tion as possible. They will keep long- ' cr, they lo6k better, and they will J bring a larger price. By proper care " ami handling one acre af straw.bcr- ries ought to bring from $250.00 to Ho,.- ; j. |