ATTENTION TO STRAWBERRIES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 13, 8 October 1937, Page 13

ATTENTION TO STRAWBERRIES

The fruit trees fuiished, the slrawberry bed tshould come ncxt for attention. It should be cleaned of weeds and the oldest and brownest of the. lower leaves cut off and burned. Then the ground between the xows should bo forked lightly or hoed to loosen the top soil. This done, a layer should be placed round the plants. This manure has a two-fold purpose; not only will it provide valuable nourisliment, but by the time the fruits ripen, the straw will have been washed clean and will maka a useful bedding to keep the berries offi the soil A good dressing to apply to plants that cropped heavily the previous season, or to rather worn-out plants, is 21b. of superphosphate and £lb. of sulphate of ammonia to every 10 square yards of the bed. Spread between the i'ows and forked lightly in, it will prove an excellent stimulant. Superphosphate is an artificial maiiure that may be safely applied to most fruits in early spring, particularly to tlie heavy cropping trees and bushes. The useful dressing is about :jlb. to each niedium-sized bush or trco and half that aniouut for smaller onos. It should be spread on the soil and forked in.