232 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



twelve to fourteen inches apart in the rows. I use none but young plants of 

 the last year's growth, and shorten the roots about one-third, as it facilitates 

 planting and causes them to throw out a great many small roots. As soon as 

 the flower stems appear they should be removed, so that the plants may not 

 be weakened by bearing fruit. In a favorable season this may not be strictly 

 necessary, hut if neglected in a dry summer many plants will die from ex- 

 haustion. The runners should also be removed if you look for a good crop 

 the next season. Clean culture and stirring the ground often are of the ut- 

 most importance, and most of this work can be done with the horse and culti- 

 vator. 



MULCHIKG. 



As soon as the ground is frozen sufficiently to bear a team, a mulching of 

 long manure or marsh hay should be applied over the whole surface; but the 

 plants should not be covered over two inches deep : more than that would 

 tend to smother them. 



AMATEUR YARIETIES. 



I said that the Wilson was the berry for the million : it will endure mor© 

 neglect than any other variety I am acquainted with, and will yield a greater 

 amount of fruit on a given space of ground. But just so long as the standard 

 of the public taste requires nothing better, it is perfectly useless to grow for 

 market such varieties as Jucunda (Knox's 700), President Wilder, or Triomphe 

 De Gand. The amateur may, however, indulge in these splendid varieties, for 

 what they lack in productiveness they more than make up in color and quality, 

 and that rich strawberry flavor so agreeable to all, without the acidity of the 

 Wilson. 



