Thorough cultivation prevents the formation of crust, keeps the ground free from weeds and promotes plant growth. During dry periods repeated shallow cultivation will prevent the escape of moisture and thereby bring the plants through a long period of drouth in good condition. You will experience very little loss from drouth if you put these instructions into practice.
Filling In Vacancies
Every bare spot in your strawberry rows reduces your profits. If for any reason an occasional plant should fail to grow, these vacant places should be filled in as soon as possible to form unbroken rows thereby making every square foot of your ground contribute its full share toward the crop.
In spots where only one or two plants are missing, the vacancy may be filled by allowing the adjoining plants to form the necessary runner plants and layering them in the proper place. If however, the spot is of considerable length, it is advisable to allow several plants to develop runners and reset these runner plants in filling the vacancies. The proper time for doing this work is in the early fall after a good shower. In resetting the runner plants for this purpose, a clump of soil should be taken up with the roots and care exercised not to disturb the roots so that there will be no check in the growth of the plant.
If these simple instructions are carefully followed, you will have perfectly filled rows.
Removing Blossoms and Runners
Plants will begin to blossom soon after they are set. The blossoms or fruiting stalks of all standard varieties should be pinched or cut off throughout the first year. This strengthens the plants by preventing exhaustion which results from early pollen secretion and seed production. It is very important that this be done as early as possible to relieve the plants of unnecessary strain. This work is easily and quickly done and is usually necessary only once or twice. (See also “The Everbearers” [Page 58].)
The runners also should be removed in accordance with the system you wish to follow.
Spraying for Insects and Plant Diseases
For all insects which work upon the foliage either eating or folding the leaves, pour sufficient water over three pounds powdered arsenate of lead to make a paste and continue adding water until it becomes a creamy solution. Pour this into fifty gallons of water and mix thoroughly before spraying. For small gardens use at the rate of one ounce of the powdered arsenate of lead to each gallon of water.