2o8 State Horticultural Society. 



if set now, will produce vigorous runners next summer. They will insure 

 an abundant crop next season, providing they are well cared for. 



Under ordinary conditions, it will pay the strawberry grower to put 

 out a small plantation each year for the sake of growing his own plants. 

 The strongest, most vigorous plants should be selected for this purpose 

 and they should be given the best of cultivation throughout the season, 

 and when they have made a good, matted row, so that the plants stand 

 from 4 to 6 inches apart, the runners should then be cut off so that no 

 more plants will be formed. Runners should never be allowed to root 

 down so abundantly that they will crowd each other. New plants grown 

 in this way from plants which have never fruited will be much more pro- 

 ductive than those which are taken from the bearing beds. 



In setting, the ground should be thoroughly prepared by plowing 

 deep and harrowing thoroughly, so as to fully pulverize and settle the soil. 

 The rows should be laid off 4| feet apart and the plants set 2 or 3 feet 

 apart in the rows. Those plants which do not have a tendency to make 

 very numerous runners may be set closer; those which, like the Aroma, 

 make abundant new runners, should be set farther apart. The young 

 plants should be set firmly, neither too deep nor too shallow. Setting the 

 plants a quarter of an inch too deep, so that the crowns are covered with 

 dirt at the bases of the leaves, is fatal to tliem. Planted in this way, they 

 will rot off and die. On the other hand, they should not be set shallow 

 enough so that the bases of the roots will be exposed to the air. As soon 

 as set out the new bed should be thoroughly cultivated to stimulate the 

 plants to make good root growth, so that they will become well established 

 before the cold weather. Set in this way, in mild weather in autumn, 

 the plants will be already rooted next spring and in condition to make 

 vigorous growth and a good setting of runners for the following season. 

 — American Truck Farmer. 



THE RENEWAL OF OLD STRAWBERRY BEDS. 



A Single Crop. — While renewal is possibly a good thing under some 

 circumstances, it is, nevertheless, my opinion that if the first crop of straw- 

 berries is a large one the second or next succeeding crop is practically 

 certain to be small. It is my further opinion that where land prices are 

 high and the soil well supplied with plant food it is more profitable to plow 

 under a strawberry patch and grow some fall vegetables, as sweet corn or 

 cabbage. I have carefully tested the renewal idea at various times for 



