CULTIVATING

There are more systems laid down in books than we have time or space to mention. Will simply give our experience.SFCC 8.2

Of course the land freest from weeds has been selected, but for this reason the weeds which remain should not be neglected, or they will soon obtain the mastery of the plants. We commence cultivating as soon as the weeds start in the spring; first going through the rows twice with an adjustable horse cultivator shut up so as not to interfere with the plants. Then following with a hoe, taking from the rows everything in the line of the weeds left by the cultivator. The beds should be kept free from weeds by all means. For city cultivation of course a hoe must take place of a cultivator.SFCC 8.3

If the object be to propagate plants, the bed should be well weeded until runners are in the way. After this they should not be disturbed till after the plants are taken up in the fall or spring. Persons adopting this method will find the tending of a Strawberry bed is but little more work than tending potatoes, corn, or beans. Strawberries should be well cultivated until the time of blossoming. After this they should not be disturbed till after they are through bearing, as it blasts the blossoms, and injures the formed berries.SFCC 8.4

Three bearing years are as long as it is profitable, as a general rule, for a bed to remain without renewing. If you wish to put Strawberries on the same ground again, it should be manured and put into other crops for a year or two, after which it may be again planted to Strawberries, as no ground should be run too long with one crop.SFCC 9.1

The best method of manuring Strawberries, is to cover them in the fall with forest leaves, straw, or almost any vegetable matter. In the spring it should be removed where it is thick enough to retard the growth of the plants, allowing them to come up through the dressing.SFCC 9.2