xt78cz323m8h https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt78cz323m8h/data/mets.xml   Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station.  journals kaes_circulars_004_524 English Lexington : The Service, 1913-1958. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 524 text Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 524  2014 true xt78cz323m8h section xt78cz323m8h Circular 524 F,
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00d U CARL CHAPLIN
W. W. MAGILL
 A W. D. ARMSTRONG
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" KENTUCKY
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College of Agriculture und Home Economics
Extension Division
FRANK J. WELCH, Dean and Director A

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N Yiclds, Costs and Profits ......,... . .......,.»......V..... . 4..... . ..........4,,..,4................, , 3 hmm
Rcquirements for Commercial Production ......4.,.............v,......,....,................ 5 it W(
Varieties ......,.r..4................,.,,........4,...r........4,.......v...........,4......,...r,4...,,..,..4....,.. 6 I]
Soil Management .......................,.....4............,....,... . .....,,..r....r.4.4........4........... 8 I Q Hu
Importance of Good Plants ....4....,.4,..... . r.4...............,,....,.4....4................4....... I0 PYOHW
Care of Plants on Arrival ..,..........4.................4..........,.,...............,....,........... IO ;]tOm
I Planting ......... . ..................4.. . ...................4...........,........s.,...............,............... I I l)1'lH(
Post—pIanting Care ..,.... . .,..4.4.... . ..... . .................................,.........,4................ I3 BOWI
Caring for the Crop ...,.....4.........   .............,..........r..........A.......,....4.....,........ I7 (lltlOl
Marketing ...... . ,..,.,.. . .....,....,.....,............ . ..........4...,.......,..........................,..... Zl IIS lill
After—harvest Care of the Patch ....r,.,... . .,...,...,.4...r..,.r............r.4....,.............. Zl glow
Insects and their Control ..............,V.r......,,.....,...,,4..........4..........,................., 23 lllll/C
Efficiency of Insecticides and Precautions ...........4.................,.....4....r......... 3I    
Strawberry Diseases s......,......... . .4..........,.....r....s., . ....... . ...........,................... 33
Everbearing Strawberries .... . ,... . ..,.i....,.....,............,..........,.4. . .,..........,....,.V.. 36
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Commercial Strawberry Production
I n Kentucky
By C. E. Chaplin, VV. W. Magill, and W. D. Armstrong _
Strawberries were produced in Kentucky in the 1930’s on
more than 10,000 acres, placing the state among the leaders in
this enterprise. For many growers, it was very profitable, the net
income being over a million dollars annually. At present prices,
it would be several times as much.
In recent years, the acreage has declined considerably due to
_ a number of economic factors rather than to any decrease in
profits. One of the main factors has been the labor supply. The
atomic plant at Paducah has drained the labor supply from the
principal strawberry area. Other industries near Louisville and
» Bowling Green have further cut the available labor. These con-
ditions appear to be temporary and the acreage should increase
as labor becomes available. Another disturbing factor is the rapid
growth of urban areas. Many acres of former strawberry land
have been used for subdivisions and industrial plant sites. Again,
the acreage should increase as new growers farther out realize
the opportunities and go into strawberry production.
Yields, Costs, and Profits
Most farmers are not aware of the fact that strawberries can
be as profitable as tobacco, or even more so. Another important `
consideration is that strawberries Ht in well with tobacco pro- by
` duction, bringing income in the spring when it is badly needed. ‘
Since tobacco acreage is limited, strawberry production presents y
an excellent opportunity for a farmer to grow another high in-
00me crop. .
Labor requirements for strawberry production are not as high V
us for tobacco, according to a study made by the Agricultural ,
Economics Department of the University of Kentucky in 1951 $
"“ 32 farms selected at random from 150 growers in Trimble ,
county. Based on a typical grower’s iirst year of production,

 Qi 230 man hours per acre are required for strawberries when sold
  y to an association, and 250 man hours when sold to the processor, ·
1 T 0 as compared to 388 for tobacco. The second year of strawberry in C
production requires 93 hours for association berries and 106 hou1·s Sum
, for processor berries, while the labor for tobacco remains about I
l the same, since it is an annual crop. Returns to labor and man-
i agement per hour of man labor, according to this study, were  
; $1.51 for tobacco, $1.29 for first year association berries, and $1.07 {Tk
l for first year processing berries. The returns the second year (T
l were $1.52 for association berries and $1.93 for processing ber- Tm
l ries. Thus, tobacco returns per hour of labor were higher the hes
l first year of strawberry production, while strawberry returns per l
hour of labor were higher the second year. berr
The above figures are based on an average of 1,723 pounds m05‘
of tobacco and 134.7 crates of strawberries per acre. The tobacco . 0P€1
average is good, due to the best practices being used. The straw- thi? 1
berry average falls far short of being as high as it might have {OUT
A been had the best practices been followed. For example, this 1
study shows that growers who produced on an average of 200-215 1*1110
crates per acre used 2,000 pounds of phosphate and 1,000 pounds Mail
of complete fertilizer per acre, while those averaging 120-130 500*
crates per acre applied only 800 pounds of phosphate and 400 local
pounds of complete fertilizer per acre. (This is not a recommen- m01`<
dation, but merely points out that good practices pay.) -1
Total costs per acre are naturally higher as production g0€S H0 I-
up, but the cost per crate is considerably lower on high—produc— harv
ing patches than on low producing ones, since many of the c0SlS rave;
are fixed. The study mentioned above shows that the total pro-
duction costs on berries sold through the association were $5.34 tl A
per crate at the 120-crate level, and $4.71 per crate at the 200- TGV
crate level. The same relationship holds true for berries sold to ` 0100:
the processors. This fact should stimulate growers to follow 016 016
very best recommended practices so that the maximum pwflt fain
may be realized. Many of the most successful individual g1'0W€YS (Ph C
consistently produce 250 or more crates per acre, Inasmuch H5 1 P1
many of the costs are the same on low producing patches as on T
higher ones, it pays to do a good job of producing. <‘¤l€1
  medi
ccnt,

 5 l'
old Requirements for Commercial Production
*013 There are several important requirements that must be met
TTY in commercial strawberry production if the enterprise is to be
ms successful.
gf The 1>Ros1>12oTivE onownn must be the type of man who will
Lew pay attentionlto detail. He must be timely in all of his operations.
tm Soil preparation, fertilizing, ordering plants, planting, weeding,
QM de—bloom1ng, picking, and many other operations must be per-
Jep formed correctly and at the right time. By neglecting any one of
the these essentials, the grower may drastically cut his profits.
per MARKET ournnrs must be adequate. Growing a good crop of
berries is of no avail if there is no market for them. Fortunately,
nds most of Kentucky is in a good marketing location. There are co-
lcco _ operatives in the commercial areas to handle the marketing of
.aW_ the crop for fresh consumption, and other cooperatives could be
[ave formed if a suHicient acreage were planted to support them.
this Most parts of Kentucky are within easy trucking and rail dis-
-215 · tances of large centers of population so that market outlets are
uids available. One-third of the nation’s population lives within a
-130 500—mile radius of the boundaries of Kentucky. Processors and
400 local sales are also important markets. Processing markets are
nen- more important each year.
THE LABOR SUPPLY is another factor to consider. Obviously,
goes no more berries should be planted than can be cared for and
due- harvested with the labor supply available. Ordinarily, five to
costs seven pickers per acre will be adequate. _
  A wma VARIETY OF so11.s may be used for strawberries, but .
260 they do best in a deep, sandy loam that is well supplied with ·
d to organic matter. Other soil types may be quite satisfactory if they .
Qthe Hfe handled correctly and meet other requirements. For in- A
KOH, Stance, a clay soil may grow good crops if it is well drained and
WHS has organic matter added in the form of animal or green manures, q
th as O1` preferably, both.
rs on T1-in sir}; plays an important part in a successful strawberry .
enterprise. The plot should be on higher ground than the im- i
mediate surrounding area and have a slight slope of 2 to 4 per- .
cent, if spring frosts are a hazard. Thus water and air drainage V

 ‘ r
§ are provided. Cold air is like water, it flows down hill and col- V
  lects in low places. Therefore, it is undesirable to have straw-
i Y berries in a low place where frost may kill the fruit buds in the
f spring or injure the plants during the winter; Good water drain-
, age is also very important. Strawberry roots will not tolerate
i water-soaked soil for a very long period. Also, wet soils are con-
; ducive to the spread of various diseases.
Q T Varieties
i The selection of varieties may largely determine the measure
* of success of the strawberry grower. He should select varieties
l that do well under his own particular soil and climatic conditions.
l Many varieties are regional in their adaptation and will do well
in one section and not at all well in another.
The grower should also keep in mind the purpose for which
the berries are intended. If they are to be shipped, as most Ken-
tucky berries are, the fruit must be firm enough to withstand the
. rigors of transportation. It must also be attractive and of good
quality. If the fruit is to be processed it must have a bright red
color throughout, be firm enough to hold its shape, and have a
pronounced strawberry flavor. Fruits for processing should he
easy to cap and be red throughout.
For local sales, the fruit need not be so firm. It should have
good size, attractive appearance, and be of good quality.
The varieties listed for Kentucky are all-purpose, and rnay
be used for airy of the above markets.
Until 10 to 20 years ago, Aroma was the principal variety
grown in Kentucky; then Blakemore was tried and found to he
much more productive and desirable. It has been the foremost
variety since then. However, Tennessee Beauty has been rapidly
overtaking Blakemore in popularity. The two varieties go well
together since Blakemore is early and the Tennessee Beauty is
a late midseason variety.
Premier has been planted for local sales, and Tennessee Ship-
per is producing very profitable crops for some growers. How- ·
ever, it is not as reliable nor adapted as widely as Blakemore arid _
Tennessee Beauty.
Bed stele, a root-rot disease, is becoming more prevalent, and
resistant varieties are recornrnended where this disease is present-
(See Table 1.)

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. 1 R 8
, Sail Management l (
  p The success of the crop depends largely upon the soil in befc
‘ which it grows. Therefore, the soil should be properly prepared dp?]
l for its task of producing large, profitable crops. There are sev- It ls
, . eral important things to consider in this respect. I E
3 ot re
l A norATroN PLAN is necessary if a grower is to be successful uhm
  over a period of years. If strawberries are grown on the same {Bm
{ land year after year, disease and insect problems are magnified Soi]
{ to the point where profitable production is no longer possible. in O
  Rotations aid in the control of weeds and they also add organic age,
{ matter and improve the physical properties of the soil. Straw- Of tl.
berries are rather shallow rooted and require a soil that is capable Not
of holding moisture. Green manure crops furnish much of the Shou
needed organic matter for moisture retention. mc tk
It is desirable to have a cultivated crop, such as corn or to- T
bacco, preceding strawberries. The weed problem then is not
_ pota.
· so great and the soil is left in good physical condition. Potatoes from
and tomatoes should not be grown preceding strawberries be- Per
cause of the danger of contamination of the soil with the Verti- Fehr
i cilium wilt organism which may be very serious on strawberries.
Rotations should include a legume such as clover, vetch with rye, P
alfalfa, soybeans, or cowpeas. The legume should be plowed greai
under, then be followed by corn or tobacco or some other culti- shou
vated crop before the strawberries are planted. early
Land that has been in sod within a three-year period before in tl
strawberries should be treated for grub worms. (See section ou wintr
pest control.) If grubs are controlled, sod or new land may pro- only
duce excellent crops. Fall-;
BARNYARD MANUBES are among the best fertilizers for straw- Wmtl
berries. It is difiicult to apply too much for this crop. Ten to 20 S;
or more tons per acre may be applied before plowing in the full diskh
preceding planting. The manure will decompose and furniSl1 may
the much needed nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potasll- _  may
Ten tons of manure is equal to approximately 1,000 poundS of are t.
10-5-10 in nutrients. Manure is low in phosphorus, and if the may
soil is low in this nutrient it may need some super·phosphHf€ up S]
added. It will also add much organic matter and thus impr0\‘€
the physical structure and water-holding capacity of the soil.

 9 f Y
COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS should be applied in the spring
in before planting unless the soil has had unusually large manure
Ed applications, is high in organic matter, and soil tests show that
xV_ it is high in phosphorus and potassium.
I Strawberries require about the same nutrient level as many
other farm crops. Soil tests should be made and the land fer- .
ful tilized accordingly. Six—hundred pounds to a ton of a complete
116 fertilizer, such as 6-8-6, depending upon the needs shown by the
Gd soil test, should be applied. This may be broadcast and worked
>lG- in or drilled before planting, or the rows may be side-dressed
¤i<> after planting. If nitrogen seems to be the limiting factor, more
W- of this nutrient may be applied early in the first year of growth.
blt? Not over 150 pounds of ammonium nitrate or its equivalent
UM? should be used. Do not apply nitrogen fertilizers in the spring
of the fruiting year. To do so will seriously cut yields.
to' Many growers in areas where the available ptiiospimus and
not potassium are low, or even medium, have had excellent results
EE from the application of 800-1000 pounds of 0-20-20 or 0-14-14
bf? per acre. The material should be broadcast over the rows in
fh` February or March of the fruiting year.
ies.
ye, FALL Pr.ow1Nc is recommended except where the slope is
ved great enough to be conducive to excessive erosion. Strawberries
[lu- should be planted as early as possible in the spring (March or
early April) and often the soil is too wet for plowing until late
me in the spring. The alternate freezing and thawing during the
Ou winter puts the soil in excellent physical condition. It may need
,1-0- Only to be smoothed with a harrow to prepare it for planting.
F Fall-plowed ground will absorb a lot of moisture during the .
aw- winter and is less likely to be droughty.
>2O SPRING PREPARATION of the soil for planting may consist of ”
fall disking and harrowing the fall-plowed ground. The fertilizer
uish may be broadcast and disked in, or it may be drilled. The soil
&Sl1· may be rolled before marking if it is too loose. lf the berries .
s of are to be planted on ground that is likely to be wet, the grower _
the may want to plant on ridges. This may be done by throwing
hate up small ridges with a lister. $
{ove I
oil.

 l l   ~ 10
r. Importance of Good Plants and
  l An effort should be made to secure only the best plants. Much nun
t l of the future usefulness of the planting may be determined by of 2
the condition of the mother plants. They should be free of dis- or a
, y ease, vigorous, and have an extensive, healthy, root system. to t
  Light-colored, fibrous roots indicate a healthy condition. Dark shel
Q or spotted roots with few fibrous roots may indicate a diseased I
{ or unhealthy condition. Old plants have roots almost black in heel
l color. sun
l One may be reasonably sure of getting good plants by order- the
l ing from a reputable nursery. Some growers select young plants Cov
I from an old patch. This is permissible only when they do not shot
show any evidence of crown borer or disease. The grower may well
want to plant a few rows of strawberries, especially for planting
purposes. If he does, they should be some distance from the P
r fruiting patch and never allowed to fruit. During a good year, I
a hundred feet of row may produce 2,000 to 3,000 plants. mc];
l Many nurseries now handle plants that have been dug in the to t-
fall and stored at S40 F. throughout the winter. This will permit The;
earlier shipment in many cases. Properly stored plants may be in N
l better under some conditions than freshly dug ones. A possible hshé
explanation for this is that the stored plants are dormant when fom
set and thus the shock is not so great as it is for freshly dug {wif
plants that have started some growth. They are particularly _ me
useful for late plantings. Im
Order plants early. Strawberries are planted in early spring  
in Kentucky. The grower should get his order in just as $0011 mw;
as the new catalogs are received. The latest date of shipment . Of P]
should be specified in the order, and this date should be m€ld€ _ Othe
early enough to guarantee arrival in plenty of time for the earliest in th
possible planting date. By getting the order in early the grower _ Rpm
will have a much better chance of receiving his full order and Sym
of getting better plants. A
_   may
Care of Plants on Arrival   Oak 1
Quite often the plants may arrive from the nursery at a tim? to m
inconvenient for planting. If setting is contemplated within Pi ` may
day or so, the plants may not need to be heeled in. The package r desir
should be opened and the plants inspected for disease, inS€€t$» plant

 11  
and condition. The correctness of the order as to variety and
ch number should be checked. The plants will be tied in bunches
)y of 25 with a label in each bunch. Any discrepancy in the order,
jS_ or any serious drying-out, heating, or disease should be reported
H to the nursery at once. The plants may be placed in a cool,
rk sheltered place and kept moist for a day or so.
gd If the plants cannot be set for several days, they should be
in heeled in. Select a well-drained area that is protected from the
sun and wind. Dig V—shaped trenches about 6 inches deep. Open
31-_ the bunches and distribute the plants, one deep, along the trench.
Its Cover the roots with fine, moist soil and firm well. The crowns
[Ot should be just above ground as in planting. VVater the plants
ay well after heeling in unless the ground is quite moist.
UE
he Planting
al? Early spring is the best time to plant strawberries in Ken-
tucky. Fall planting often is not satisfactory because of injury
ih? to the plants from heaving (alternate freezing and thawing).
mt They should be planted as early as the ground can be worked
be in March or early April. This enables the plant to become estab-
ble lished and make runners before hot, dry weather comes. Plants
mn formed from early runners will produce several times as much
·“g fruit as those formed from later ones. If planting is delayed until
Ylr . late April or May, dry weather often slows the formation of run-
I ner plants until fall, and late—formed plants are low producers
mg Planting distances in Kentucky vary with individuals, from
xm rows 40 to 48 inches apart. Some varieties that make a profusion
But 0f plants, such as Blakemore, may be planted 3 feet apart while
lde Others, such as Tennessee Shipper, should be planted 2 feet apart l
lest j in the row. A good rule is to plant most varieties in rows 4 feet `
NSY T apart, and 2 feet apart in the row. This is for the matted—ro—.v A
md System of culture which is the only one used in Kentucky. ·
Marking off the ground is desirable for hand planting. This
may be done with a marker. The runners are lengths of 2x4—incl1 ·
Oak spaced 4 feet apart. The marker is pulled across the patch .
ime to mark the rows. Another marker with the runners 2 feet apart _
H H .  may then be pulled at right angles across the patch if the grower ‘
agi? desires to have the plants in checked rows. The plants are then -
=ctS¤ _ planted in the intersections of the marks. ,

 i .
i' l
p ` 12
p Pruning the plants before setting is a good practice. Most of
Q the large, old leaves should be removed. This will reduce loss
i l of moisture through transpiration. If the roots are too long, they
may be cut back. This is especially helpful in machine planting.
V The roots may be easily pruned by placing bunches of plants on
  a board and cutting them off with a sharp knife so that the re-
{ rnaining roots are 5-6 inches long.
l Correct planting will give the plants the necessary advantage -
. for an early resumption of growth. Keep the roots moist at all
l times during the planting operation. This may be best accom-
1 plished by carrying the plants in a pail partly filled with water, _
l or by keeping damp moss over the roots. Several methods may
be used in hand setting. A dibble, trowel, or spade may be used. ·
Whichever tool is used, there are several precautions that must
be taken. The crown must be left exactly at ground level. lf it
is too deep or too shallow the plant will be injured and may even
f die. (See Fig. 1.) The roots must be spread out (not doubled I
f up) and fine soil should be well firmed around the roots. -‘
A spade is a handy tool for rapid setting. Press the spade t0
about half its length into the soil. Move it back and forth slightly
l to make a V-shaped opening. Insert the strawberry plant with
the roots fanned out, with the crown at the surface of the ground.
Next insert the spade a short distance from the plant and pry
the soil against the plant’s roots so that it is firmly anchored.
Firm the soil around the plant with the foot.
Machine setting is practiced by many of the larger growers. _
It has the advantage of being much faster than hand planting. l mi QQ
However, it has several disadvantages. It is difficult to get the   §E';’;{· P;
plants at the proper depth with the roots spread out as they
should be. A man should follow the transplanting machine to
firm the soil around the plants and to reset improperly set plants. _  fer S6
A starter solution, although not used to any great extent, is sedim
thought to be helpful in getting the plants off to an early start.
They are particularly useful in a transplanter. There are many I
fertilizer preparations on the market that can be used for this 1
purpose. Directions on the package should be followed. You V Tl
may make your own by following these instructions: Mitha
To 50 gallons of water, add 10 pounds of a complete fertiliZ€1‘. , {Ulf Q
such as 5-10-5 or 5-10-10. Stir it thoroughly and allow it to Sd IEEE]?
12

 13  
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ars. _ _ I _
Fig. l.—Correct planting pays. The plant on the left is not planted deep enough and
Dg· Wlll be damaged by drying out. The one on the right is planted too deep and will not
the 9f0w properly. The plant in the center is properly planted, with the crown at ground
level. It will start growth quickly and form runners early. .
iev 1
to
nts. lor several hours. Decant the clear liquid and throw away the I
, is Sediment. Use about tg pint per plant. _
art.
WY Post-planting Care _
this
The soil must be cultivated fre Ll€11lZl to kee it loose 1
{011 .
S0 that runners may root easily, and to control weeds. Loose soil 1
we ` Wlll absorb moisture more readily. A certain amount of hand
set ll0€ing is necessary for weeds the cultivator does not get. Wl1ile -
4 ll0€i11 , the runners ma be ulled into the 1'OVV and s aced to .
Y

 .? 2
T 14
{ some extent. A small amount of soil placed on the runner will yea,
g hold it in place and aid it in getting established. mam
‘ A Chemical weed control is rapidly gaining favor with straw- SW6
berry growers. Crag Herbicide N0. 1 is the most promising f
3 chemical for weed control in strawberries. It is effective against Shag
Q practically all annual weeds and grasses. Two to three applica- Som,
Q tions during the first year seem to keep the weed population Wee,
i down about 80 percent with no malformation of the plants. gmx
Y There have been some reports of a slowing down of the rooting pate
E process of runner plants when the material was applied while [
{ the plants were runnering. The patch must be free of weeds blob?
i when the material is applied, since the chemical kills weed seeds velo]
as they germinate and is not effective after the weeds have be- As ii
come M1- to MZ-inch high. The chemical does not become active form
until it comes into contact with the soil where soil micro-or- stalk
ganisms convert it into an active weed killer similar to 2, 4-D. blooi
Three pounds to the acre is the correct dosage on most soils. over
` Two pounds may be adequate on sandy soils. The material is I]
sprayed over the row under low pressure. Any amount of water have
from 30 gallons up may be used. Thorough coverage of the pm-ic
ground is the important thing. The grower may wish to spray the f
the whole area or only the row. If only the row is sprayed it iS mlm.
important to figure the area actually covered and not the area and;
of the whole patch. deve
The grower should know the volume of spray per acre de- l [1
livered by his equipment. This may be determined by first spray- pgtcl
ing a measured area with water. tion.
The first application may be made any time after 10 days of gpm]
planting, but before or at the time weeds begin to germinate. turei
It should not be used more often than once a month. A suggeSt€d gms 1
schedule would be to make the first application about 10 days A bless.
after planting and follow it with another a month to six weelr- stalks and when they have grown out sufficiently, most of the
D. blooms can be removed by pinching off the fruiting stalks. Going
ls. over the patch two times should be sufiicientgfor bloom removal.
is Irrigation is of special benefit to strawberry plants. They
zer have relatively shallow root systems, hence, at critical drought
he periods during the Hrst year, irrigation may insure a large crop
ay the following spring. The additional water will stimulate more
is runner plants, which will have larger crowns and initiate more
·ea and stronger fruit buds. One or two irrigations while the fruit is
V developing and maturing may save the crop if a drought occurs.
le- Irrigation is especially helpful in the rejuvenation of old
ay- patches. This will be mentioned in more detail under rejuvena-
tion. Irrigation may be helpful also in reducing damage from
Ot spring frosts. The water should be turned on when the tempera-
ite. ture drops to freezing, and left on until the ice on the plants be- °
ted gins to melt the next morning. This method has prevented much A
gys blossom injury in some states.
eks Plant thinning is a good practice when too many plants are
&b· — formed. Strawberries are like any other crop in that they do best
when they are spaced properly. Four to eight plants per square .
. 0f foot is recommended. _
I it _ Relatively few growers in Kentucky do any thinning. How-
her . ever, in years that are particularly conducive to plant-making, Z
I some varieties may need to be thinned. This is especially true _
first ofthe Blakemore variety which makes many plants. Hand-thin-

 A 16
i ning is time consuming, and it is doubtful if it would be profitable  
i under Kentucky conditions.  
‘ Some growers have found it satisfactory to pull a harrow   .irfr KZ
over the patch in the fall. The harrow teeth will uproot many 'A J
i young plants that are not well established, yet will not harm the ,f2_._;;.
L large plants with extensive root systems. These young, poorly  
k established plants would have cropped only lightly, if at all, and  
i would have been a drain on the other plants. The results of  
a crowding are smaller size and lower quality fruit.  
l Another practice not used in Kentucky, but which could very  
{ profitably be tried, is the use