66 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



last berries are small, but there is a good demand for them, and the 

 last end of the crop brings better prices. 



After the berries have been picked, the ground should be culti- 

 vated immediatel}'. It will become quite hard between the rows 

 during the pickino; season by walking over it constantU' to gather the 

 fruit, and should be pulverized. The cultivator should be widened 

 so as to plow up some of the old plants on each side, and when the 

 runners start they will fill these places with new plants, and ensure 

 a crop for the next season. The rows should be plowed down nar- 

 row, so that they will be not more than six inches wide. Give the 

 land a good top dressing of commercial fertilizer and wood ashes? 

 and by September there will be a lot of new plants. I prefer fertili- 

 zers for a top dressing, as the}' contain no foul seeds, act quicker 

 and can be applied without driving a heavy team on the bed. After 

 two crops have been taken off, the plants should be plowed under 

 and the ground re-set. If the plants are in a good healthy condi- 

 tion, however, it might pay to cultivate them the third year. I have 

 seen a paying crop from a bed four 3'ears old, but nothing like the 

 first one taken off, of course. Some of our largest growers raise 

 but one crop, and sa}' there is more money in it than to take care of 

 an old bed. The berries are larger, bring better prices, give better 

 satisfaction, and the loss of the use of the land is more than made 

 up in the higher price received. Those who raise berries for market 

 3'ear after year set a new piece every spring and plow one under 

 every fall ; about one-third of the land being in runners ever}' season. 



VARIETIES. 



In buying plants to set, go to some reliable parties that are en- 

 gaged in the business — well-known nurserymen or parties that are 

 growing fruit for market. Do not depend on the talkative tree agent 

 who, with his bright-colored plates, will try to make you believe that 

 he has just the sort 3'ou want — a decided acquisition ; a new sort 

 just introduced ; the largest, best flavor and most productive ever 

 grown, and will sell them to 3'ou at two dollars per dozen, a large 

 discount from the regular price. Do not listen to him. Do not trade 

 -with him at all, but buy your plants of reliable parties that have a 

 reputation for honest}' and square dealing. Neither purchase of irre- 

 sponsible parties who offer to sell below the market price. In such 

 cases the}' are about sure to be badly mixed. Do not set old plants 

 if you can get them for nothing. They are not worth the labor of 



