12 The Bulletin. 



heel the plants in, in some place where the soil is well drained. Place 

 the plants close together in the trench and cover the roots the same as 

 in planting in the field, but use the same care in not covering the crown 

 of the plant. After bedding plants in this way pack the earth firmly 

 around the roots so that they will not dry out before they are set in the 

 field. If loosely heeled in, plants are apt to die. 



CULTIVATION. 



The common method of cultivating strawberries in the eastern part 

 of the State, that is, in the coastal section, is to confine the plants to 

 the hill system. Most growers claim that larger yields of better fruit 

 can be produced in this way. The cost of cultivation, however, is in- 

 creased to a certain extent by this system. All runners must be re- 

 moved from the main plant, and as this work can best be done by hand, 

 it adds to the cost of production. When weather conditions are favor- 

 able throughout the growing season the hill system proves very satis- 

 factory. Sometimes when the season is exceedingly wet these plants 

 make an excess of growth which is not desirable. The semimatted row, 

 or modified hill system of growing strawberries as followed by other 

 growers is not so apt to make an excess of plant growth. The expense 

 of cultivation under this system is also lessened, and those who advo- 

 cate this method of "rowing berries claim that it is equally as profit- 

 able as the hill system. The hill system of cultivation is shown in 

 Fig. 1. Matted rows are shown as a comparison in Fig. 2. 



The fundamental principles of cultivation are applicable to the suc- 

 cessful growing of strawberries, whether they be planted in hills or in 

 matted rows. Plants grow, develop, and mature their fruit in propor- 

 tion to the amount of available plant food at their disposal. The 

 greater part of this plant food is in the soil, occurring naturally, or 

 supplied by artificial means. It cannot, however, be made use of by 

 the plants until rendered available. This condition is brought about 

 by the combined action of several agencies, most important of which 

 are temperature, air, and moisture. Tillage promotes the work of these 

 agencies, and, as a result, influences the growth of the plants, thereby 

 affecting the development and quality of the fruit. Poorly fed, badly 

 neglected plants cannot produce marketable fruit. 



After the crop of strawberries has been harvested, deep cultivation 

 can be given the plants. This should continue until about the last of 

 August or first of September, when the plants will begin to send out a 

 number of fresh surface feeding roots. From this time on cultivate 

 shallow and only enough to keep down the weeds. If these new roots 

 are materially disturbed, it will have a similar effect on the plants to 

 root pruning, and as a result next season's crop is likely to be later. 



