'
awbe mis Vital Factor
POULTRY FOR THE BOY
Desirable to Manage Them Sepa
rate From Other Fowls.
"""" """" "" "" "" "" " "" " '
lipif , I SOT!
-' " i'
hJl llHOW TO RAISE
jgjSBfcl wfBIC CROPS
Jpfeta I Wr 4k w.H. Burke 2
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N
GRKAT many porBons who
are trying to grow straw
berries do not know that
there is a question of box
In the plants. TIiIh Is also
truo of many nurseryman,
nnd score of growers nro disappoint
cJ every year because the plants they
buy do not bear fruit.
Tlio male plant In strawberries Is
what Is known na the stamlnato or hi
floxual, a perfect flowering plant. The
femnlo plant Is known as tho pistillate,
nnd unless It Is planted along with tho
bl-acxual. or malo plant, so that they
can bo pollenlzed they will yield no
fruit,
In the Illustration It will be seen
that In tho ccntor of the bisexual
flowers the pistils are surrounded by
anthers, or bulb like protrusions,
which nro filled with tho flowcr-llko
eubstanco called pollen, which 1b car
ried to other pistils all over tho patch,
nnd this fertilizes them and tlniB every
blossom becomes a berry. Tho Illus
tration HliowB that none of thoso an
thers nppear on tho plstlllato flowers.
Wo oxplaln this matter fully bo thnt
very one nmy understand how neces
sary It Is that one nlwayB Bhould sot
bl-sexual plants, and that whero tho
pistillate varieties also aro chosen
they should bo bo arranged thnt tho
pollen of tho bl-sexunlB will raach tho
bloom of tho plstlllato plants. In or
der thnt complete pollonatlon may bo
secured, wo ndvlso tho sotting of pis
tillate varieties between rows of bl
aoxualB of the same season. Or, ono
may set. tho plstlllato varlotlos be
tween bl-scxuals of nn earllor and a
later season.
In arranging the plants, If you desire
to do so, you may sot ono row of pis
tlllateB, or two rows, or as mnny as
threo rows of plstlllates, between tuo
two rows of bl-scxualB, nB pollen will
bo easily carried over several rows of
plants. As plstlllato varlotlos fre
quently are the heaviest of yleldora.
Let ub consider at tho outset tho
matter of soil, nnd let It bo undor
atood thnt strawberries will grow suc
cessfully under as groat a vnrloty of
conditions as will potatoes or turnips
or cabbage or any other of tho com
monest boHb of vegetables or grains.
In a word, your boII la Just tho kind
of soil In which to grow Btrnwborrloa
whether It bo sand, sandy loam, clay
loam, clay, black prairie soli, or vol
canic null.
The Soil a Feodlng Trough.
Indeed, tho soil may bo likened to a
focdlng trough. It doesn't nmko nny
difference whether you feed tho hogs
from an oak trough or a plno trough
the result would bo Identical In either
aso. Tho soil la only a medium
through whloh the plantB receive their
:food.
Thereforo, tho Important thing for
tlio grower to do Is to boo that hla
noil, whatever Its naturo, la properly
Euppl(ed with thu blemonta necessary
to tho feeding nnd growth of tho
Ilant8. Once wo get thia thought
-clearly In mind tho whole matter of
crop production Is simplified, and each
grower may bo confident that his soil
will do just na well rb anybody else's
moll If It be In tho proper condition for
tlio sustennnce nnd development ot
.plant life
I Barnyard manure Is ono of tho
strawberry grower's most valuablo
nssotii, Thereforo, ho should give
great attention to conserving this fer
tility nnd seolng to It that It Is prop
erly applied to tho soil.
After tho manure Is spread comes
the breaking up of tho soil. In doing
this work bo careful to boo that every
partlclo of hard boII Ib worked up anil
Into as mellow a state aa It Is pos
nlblo to get It Tho depth to which
ono should plow dependB upon tho na
turo and formation of tho soil.,
Whore the Boll Is deep ono may go
b deeply as eight inchos, but In shal
lower soils tho depth Bhould not ox
coed from four to bIx Inches.
For our present purpose- wo Bhall
conflldor tho three soils moat common
the world over, namely, thoso In which
clny predominates, those having a
Bandy naturo, nnd tho so-called black
noil. In tho mero matter of furnishing
plant food to these soils tho methods
wo have referred to will do for nil of
thorn, but from tho mechanical point
of view tho treatment will bo qulto
different.
How to Treat Sandy Soils,
In the cliso ot soils whero tho Bandy
quality predominates tho surfaco
hnuld be rolled and thoroughly coin-
,. . 4J!in. rZ.??Jl9imFW5'M'ZiVt-'0 r a X -"
1 A Single Stem of the "Kellogg
Prize Variety," a Pedigreed Plant
Which Has Produced at tho Rate of
12,000. Quarts Per Acre.
2 Pistillate, or Female Blossoms.
3 Bl-sexual, or Male Blossoms.
4 Patch of Pedigreed Plants Four
Months From Setting. ,
5 Good Example of Row Planting.
"Early Osage" Grown In New York.
6 Indiana Woman Raises $160
Worth of Strawberries From One-half
Acre.
pacted so that tho plants mny rest
In a firm and close ilttlng garment of
earth. While It Is truo thnt tho rootB
of plants muBt hnvo air, It oIbo la truo
that thoy must not bo given too much
air, and unless tho looso, conrao sand or
Handy loam 1b compacted olthor by
rolling or llontlng, tho roota will be
ovor auppllod with air. Howovur, roll
Ing novor Is done If tho soil Is nt nil
wot. To do bo moana tho calcine of tho
Burfaco, which Is ono of tho things nl
wayB to bo avoided.
Just tho rovereo troatment Is truo
of clay soil so far as compacting goes,
for It la tho nnturo of olay to com
pact Itself, and instead, thoroforo, of
rolling tho soil, wo need to pulvorlzo
It thoroughly boforo tho plants aro set
and stir It frequently whllo plants nro
growing In order that tho process of
decay ot tho vegetable matter In tho
soil may bo normally maintained.
Thororore, cultivation should bo deep
er In clay than in sandy soils. As a
rule, cultivation should bo at least
four Inchos deop.
Having your soil In perfect condi
tion, tho noxt essonttnl for big rod hor
des la porfoctly dovolopod" plants. If
you hnvo purchased plants of a high
quality from a roputablo source, you
may with confldonco go forward with
your work, and it is important that
you nmko all tho conditions comfort
nblo for the plants and aa encouraging
to productiveness aa It la posslblo to
do. Ono ot tho Important things to
thia end 1b tho removal ot all buds and
blossoms from each plant during tho
first season of Its growth. When this
Is dono nil dt tho strength of tho grow
ing plant gooa Into tho development
gf massive roots and crown systoms,
and upon thoso dopond tho quality and
character of tho fruit ylold. Thoro
foro, bo sure to check tho plant's ten
dency to fruit while It la yet young
by pinching off each fruiting Btalk.
Ono man will easily do this work on
ono aero In halt a day.
Thou thoro Ib tho necessity ot re
moving Burplus runners. Hy surplus
runners wo moan thoso young plants
that dovelop after you have formed
your Bystom. If your system Ib tho
Blnglo hedge row, then you will permit
two runnor plants to grow and will
layer them directly In lino with tho
mother plant. If you hnvo adopted the
doublo-hedgo-row Byatom, you will al
low each mothor plant to mnturo four
runuor plants, and thoso runner plantB
will bo layorod X fntOilon, the mothor
plant forming tho contort of tho X. Or
If you doslro to grow your plants by
tho hill system, then you will allow no
runnor plants whatever to form, but
tho mothor plant Itself will bo encour
aged to develop a great fruiting ays
torn. Tho fowor runner plants tho
more vlgoroua tho mother plant will
bo, ot course, na tho production ot tho
runnor plnnta drawB heavily upon tho
physical resources of tho mothor plant.
Now you havo tho ground thorough-
ly prepared and your plants in hand,
and wo hnvo reached tho Important op
eration of setting out tho plants.
Uso tho dibble to make the opening
In tho soil and to closo over tho roots
of tho plants, just as you would do If
you were setting a tomatb or a cab
bage plant, nnd tho work will bo dono
nently and with dlspatch.'-
Cultlvatlon should begin aa Boon aa
posslblo after, the plants are set In the
ground, and this should bo repeated
every eight or ton days thereafter If
tho woathor remnlns clear. Whenever
It rnlna, however, you should bo In
your strawberry field as soon as soil
conditions render It posslblo to do so.
Uut never cultivate tho soil boforo It
will crumblo when disturbed. Soil con
ditions always should dotermlno tho
ttmo of cultivation. Ono thing that
never should bo nogloctod Is tho ten
dency of the soil to form a crust. Here
aro some of the doslrable results of
cultivation: Cultivation pro vents the
cruat from forming on tho Boll's surf
aco and dostroys all weed seed while
thoy aro In the germinating stage.
Continuous, vigorous growth Is ob
tained only whon tho digestive organs
ot tho plant are In a healthy condition.
To keep the dtgestlvo organs In a
healthy condition wo muBt keop bac
teria nctlvo. To keop bacteria active
wo must supply them with an abund
ance of air; nnd to supply air wo must
cultivate. Cultivation forms a dust
mulch, a dust mulch retains moisture,
molsturo dissolves plant food, plant
food makes active roots, actlvo roots
build up a big foliage, a big foliage
makes perfect digestion, and perfect '
.- -I , -J .
digestion develops a heavy fruit bud
system and keeps up a continuous,
vigorous growth
When the Season Is Over.
Let ur add that tho grower should
novor fall, at tho Inst cultivation In
tho fall, to run n narrow furrow down
tho contor ot the spaces botweon tho
rows, bo that all surplus water from
hoavy rains or melting snows may
quickly drain away. Make thlB furrow '
from four to flvo Inchos deep. 1
Somo growers prefor to cultlvnto
their plants by tho hill system. Others '
like tho Vlnglo-hodgo row, nnd still
othors, the doublo-hedgo row Thero
are somo growers who still contlnuo to
grow plnnta by tho nnrrow-nmUud row, '
but this Ib Bomothlng I novor ndvlso. '
Tho growor should consldor his mar-'
ket whon setting out his plants. It ho
Is noar a lnrgo city ani haB a trade
thnt Is willing to pay fancy prlccB for
fancy fruit, thoro Is no doubt but tho
largest results will bo aocurod from
tho hill system. If ono's plot Is limited
nB to slzo and all tho work Is to bo
dono with a hoo, wo ndvlse setting
planta 15 by 15 Inchos npnrt. This
calls for 27,750 plants to tho aero.
Whero tho fields aro extensive and
tho growor Is to cultlvato with the I
horse, rows for tho hill system should t
be made SO Inches apart nnd the planta
set 15 inches apart in tho rows When
these dlstnnces aro observed It re
quires 14,000 plants for ono acre.
The strawberry has few enemies In
tho way of insect peats or fungous dis
eases. Hut this faA should never lead
the giowor to bo unmindful of his duty
to be at all times prepared to moot any
troublos that may como to him from
theso sources.
Plants MuBt Be Mulched.
Mulching strawberry plants
prime essential to tho grower's
cess, and for soveral Important
boub. Ono of theoo, the clean
Is a
frult
which good mulching Insures. Nothing
Is moro distasteful or moro unsightly
than sandy, gritty strawberries, and
tho man who puts that sort of fruit on
tho market will hnvo only himself to
blame If he finds he Is losing his trade.
Clean fruit, well ripened and carefully
packed In boxes, Ib Just as appetizing
as It looks, and tho averago man would
rather pay 25 centa for a quart of such
fruit than to pay ten cents for tho in
ferior stuff so frequently found upon
the markets.
Fruit should be bo clean na it lies on
the straw that no cleaning process
should ever bo required. As to ma
terials, any kind of straw will produce
tho desired results, but my first cholco
Is wheat straw; tho second choice Is
oat straw. However, shredded corji
stalks, sorghum pomace, coarse grass,
marsh hay, or any other material pos
sessing the qualities found in these
will servo the purpose. Atlantic coast
peoplo uso sea wocd with success. In
tho south, where freezing and thawing
never occur, tho needleB of the plno
nro very generally employed as mulch.
In northern latitudes make tho
mulch from two to four Inches deep
between tho rows, and anywhere from
ono-half-inch to an inch over the plantB
themselves. In tho spring simply part
tho mulch from over tho plants, adding
It to tho mulching already between tho
rows. Mulch after the first good freeze
in the fall, and part the mulching from
over the plants as soon as real spring
weather comes on.
Preparation for the second crop
should recelvo attention directly after
tho first crop has been entirely har
vested. Tho first thing to do is to mow
off tho plants close to the crown. This
may bo dono with a mowing machlno
or a scythe. ' ,
When tho field haa been entirely
cleared of the refuse mattor, whether
It be burned over or raked off, tuko a
breaking plow and throw a furrow
from each Bldo of tho row Into tho cen
ter, leaving tho plantB about six Inches
wide In tho rows. Then go along the
rows with n hoo and thin out the plants
until tho hills aro from 1G to 20 Inches
apart, being careful to remove tho
weakest appearing plants.
A five-tooth cultivator should be
used to level back to place the ridges
which tho plow has mado between tho
rows. Be careful to see that the soil
Is drawn all around tho roots ot tho
plants which are allowed to remain,
and bo sura to cover the crowns light
ly with soil, doing the latter work
i ,,., ), ,- r,in rw
" - " 0... .-...
This will aid the plants to form a
now and vigorous root system, which
will develop Just abovo the old roots
and below tho crown. Cultivation and
booing should proccod exactly as in
tho case ot tho new-set bed. Permit
theso plants to make runners until all
tho vacant spaces In tho rows are
tilled. For tho second crop I advise
either the hill system or tho doublo
hedgo row for nil varieties.
Sometimes plants in tho spring indi
cate a lack of vitality. Wheroover
this occurs I advlso the uso of nltrato
of soda for tho purposo ot stimulating
the plants to secure bettor results.
If In the autumn your plants Indicate
lessened vitality, glvo them a good
dressing ot well-rotted stable nianuro
Just before tho mulching Is applied.
Tho third way ot stimulating tho
plants Is, In tho early spring, to draw
tho ulchlng .away from tho center of
.n row nnd cultlvnto.
This work should bo done aftor all
danger from frost Is pnst, but this cul
tivation never should bo dono whllo
planta aro blooming, unless tho soil In
sufllclently molat to prevent dust from
flying. I repent that tho looking nfter
tho plants In this way gives a double
assurance ot success In tho growing of
strawberries,
(Copyright, UtJ, by C. M. BhulU.)
oan Given for the Construction of
'Suitable House to Accommodate
Ten Hen and Male Coop
May Be Enlarged.
(By KATHKUINR ATIIER.TON
GIUME3.)
Tho boy who baa fowls of his own
will want to manago thorn so as to
koop them separate from tho other
poultry on tho farm. The following
plan, which is arranged to accom
modate ten or twelvo hens and a male,
has been found very satisfactory. It
may bo enlarged for a greater number,
always remembering that each addi
tional fowl means from flvo to eight
Bquaro feet moro of floor spaco.
Tho coop In question Is five feot
wldo and twelvo feot long, giving a
floor spaco of sixty square feet flvo
or six square feet per hen. It is six
feet high at tho front, and four feet
at the back, and la built from cheap
lumber, and covered with tarred roof
ing. On most farms there aro odds
and ends of boards enough to put
A Splendid Specimen.
jp such a coop, except for tho roof
ing. As no glass is used, tho only
additional expense will bo for nails,
hinges, a few yards of cheap cotton
domestic, and a little poultry net
ting. Tho door Into tho coop Is put at one
end of tho front wall. It la not closed
with a solid door, but with a framo
covered with wire netting, having a
curtatn of muslin on the Inside for
use In cold weather. Tho upper half
ot the remaining part of the front is
also left open and covered with net
ting, with an inside muslin curtain.
In warm weather theso curtains are
kept rolled up, but In cold weather
thoy are let down over tho oponlnga.
Thoy should bo largo enough to cover
them well, and havo weights at tho
botom to hold them In place. If a
hen Is run in, and a rather heavy slat
thrust through, the casing thus formod,
they will stay In place very well.
The only other openings in tho coop
aro four little square doorways, eight
by ten Inches In size. If the hens are
very lnrge, theso may bo made some
what larger each way. Ono of these
little doors should be in each end, and
one In each lower corner ot the back
wall. Thoy are closed with a sliding
panel, set in a little frame, which
can be raised or lowered by a wire or
stout cord. Only one la, of course, to
bo used at a time.
In tho center of the back wall, two
feet abovo the floor, fasten : frame
two feot wldo and three feot long,
carrying two roosting poles. This
frame should be hinged to the wall so
It can bo raised out of- tho way whon
desired. Undor it, a foot from tho
floor, make a little platform of boards
to catch tho droppings. Do not fasten
this anywhere, as you will want to
take .it up to clean it. On the front
corners of the roosting framo put legs
a Yoot long, which should rest on thia
dropping board when tho roost Is
lowered In place Havo both roosting
poles the same height, not set so the
frame will slant.
On tho celling, directly above the
roost, nail strips of inch boards so as
to make a framo tho samo size, or a
trlflo largor, than the roost Itself. To
this tack atrlpB ot burlap sacking long
enough to reach the floor, and wido
enough to completely surround tho
coop when they are dropped In place.
At tho lower edges put slats to keep
them in place, as on tho other cur
tains. On cold nights this makes a
Bnug, nnd yet not stuffy, sleeping placo
for tho biddies. In the warmer parte
of tho country this lnsldo curtain
will not be needed, but In the colder
Btatcs it will glvo amplo protection
through tho winter. It should bo
rolled up during the day.
Tho nest boxes two aro plenty
should bo placed In tho darkest part
of tho coop. This will bo against tho
front wall, In tho corner farthest
from tho outer door. AN box three
feet long and a foot deep, with parti
tion In the mlddlo, and doors cut In
tho onds, makes a good nest whon
turned bottom sldo up over a nice
deep bed of clean straw.
They live In style; she has a maid
To laco her shoes und hook her waist;
Ills bills are always promptly paid.
Her clothes exhibit faultless taste:
A butler meets you at their door,
Their car la bis and swift and (strong;
They havo a' million, maybe more
Yet tliere Is something that Is wrong.
lie has a man to trim his hair
And nx his bath and rub him down;
fie is not forced to dally bear
The strain of tolling hard In town;
riiey travel whon and whero they please.
They seldom are at homo for Ions;
While others work they live at case
Yet there Is something that Is wrong.
They say It was his wealth that mado
Her choose him from tho willing throng;
How suddenly Home beauties fade
How often there Is something wrong.
He arid Byron.
"Your poetry reminds mo very much
of that of Byron." said the beautiful
young woman.
Tho joung bard drew himself up to
hla full height, threw back his head,
stuck a hand between tho second and
third buttons of his Prince Albert coat
and with a satisfaction that ho did
not attempt to conceal replied:
"It is very satisfying to hear you
say bo very satisfying, I assure you."
"He also began every new line with
i capital."
Nothing for Him to Brag About.
"I didn't see you at Sabbath school
last Sabbath." said the good man.
"Didn't you?" replied little Johnny.
'Well, you needn't think you're so
blamed smart on that account. There
waB a whole lot moro people didn't;
3ee me there, either."
A Picture. . '
Her eyes aro like .the violet,
Her cheeka are like tho rose,
And marble never was moro
Than Is her shapely noso
Hor figure Is the supple kind
That artists like to draw.
But, oh, her voice, alas, Is like
The filing of a saw.
whltt
Preposterous.
"No," said the mattneo idol, "I can
aot consent to play this part."
"Why?" asked the manager. "It will
give you a grand opportunity to ex
hibit your hlBtrlonlc powers."
"But I should have to mako up so
that I shouldn't appear at all like my
self." His Boast.
"Who gives this woman away?"
asked the preacher.
"I do," said the father of tho heiress
ffho was being married to a titled for
signer, "and, more than that, I'm giv
ing one of tho biggest bonuses on rec
jrd with her."
' Mere Suggestion.
"Wait a year," Bhe said, "and then
isk me again."
"Ah," he complained, "you aro cruel.
What could I do In tho meantime?"
"Well, If you don't mind you might
go on making love to me."
Born for Diplomacy.
"Why do you think Charley Tork
mgton would be successful In the dip
lomatic service 7"
"He always manages to sit between
my chaperon nnd me."
Poetic.
"Oh, Mr. Swuyzelelgh Is a poet, Isn't
ho?"
"Why do you think so?"
"I just heard him say 'at eventide.' "
The Part and the Whole.
"A part can't bo bigger than the
whole, you know."
"Every actor who plays leads thinks
nls part can be."
, . JCH-.,
Nondescript Fruit
"This parsnip doesn't tasto just
right."
"What's that?"
"I say this parsnip doesn't taste
lust right."
"Well, I never saw a parsnip that
did."
K ,
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