As a rule, however, such plants cannot be
bought in quantities before August or September.
As we go south, September, October, or November, according to
lowness of latitude, are the favorite months for planting. I have
had excellent success on the Hudson in late autumn planting. My
method has been to cover the young plants, just before the ground
froze, with two or three inches of clean earth, and then to rake
it off again early in April. The roots of such plants become
thoroughly established during the winter, and start with double
vigor. Plants set out in LATE autumn do best on light, dry soils.
On heavy soils they will be frozen out unless well covered. They
should not be allowed to bear the following season. A late-set
plant cannot before winter in our climate become strong and sturdy
enough to produce much fruit the following season. I make it a
rule not to permit plants set out after the first of October to
bear fruit until a year from the following June.
In setting out plants, the principle of sex should be remembered.
The majority of our favorite varieties are bisexual; that is, the
blossoms are furnished with both stamens and pistils. A variety
with this organization, as the Sharpless, for instance, will bear
alone with no other kind near it. But if one set out a bed of
Champions--another fine variety--well apart from any staminate
kind, it would blossom profusely, but produce no fruit.
Pages:
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184