No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 637 



Now, as for the perfect and imperfect blossom. It is our experi- 

 ence in the past twelve years that the perfect blossoming plant is 

 grown here or in this locality with greater success, while the imper- 

 fect, if set among those of the perfect and if assisted by the agents 

 of pollenization, which are bees, insects, etc., and thus bear fruit, 

 it is generally of a very fine quality. But supposing, for instance, 

 there should come a splashing rain when they were in full bloom 

 the pollen would be driven to the ground and in damp weather bees 

 and insects can not work; therefore, there will be no fruit, while 

 with the perfect blossom a crop is almost a sure thing. 



The question is often asked, Which is the better, the matted row 

 or those planted in the hill? and can be answered in this way, when 

 planted in the hill, the berry perhaps will be larger, or in other 

 words, "hill culture may be defined as a method of consolidating 

 many small plants into one very large plant and many small berries 

 into one very large berry." But one growing them for the profit, can 

 not afford the use of so much soil as one can raise from three to 

 five times the number of bushels from the matted row as can be 

 raised when set in the hill. 



When set in the spring (and they should be set at no other time) 

 they should be cultivated in less than one week after setting, and 

 weekly cultivations continued throughout the summer. The blos- 

 soms should also be picked off the first season after setting as the 

 plant has not the strength to produce fruit and also runners. 



In the fall after the ground is frozen they should be mulched 

 with a light covering of straw or leaves and some use corn fodder. 

 This is to protect the plant, not from freezing, for it is not the 

 freezing that injures it, but it is when the ground has been frozen 

 for a few days and then the sun shines hot the ground will thaw, 

 contract and heave up, often breaking the tender roots. But if they 

 are shaded by a light covering they will not thaw on these warm 

 days but remain frozen and when a long warm spell does come, the 

 frost will dissolve on the underside of this frozen part first, there- 

 fore the plant cannot be injured. 



In the spring before the weather gets very warm, lift the mulch 

 from the plant and if they be on very sandy ground it is well to 

 place it in path and under foliage as it will protect the berries from 

 sanding and we all know sanded berries are not very salable. This 

 being done there should be no further work in the bed until har- 

 vesting. I guess we all know how to pick berries so it is needless 

 to dwell here. 



When through bearing, the plant is utterly exhausted and some- 

 thing must be done at once to assist them in recovery. The old 

 leaves are no longer of use, and should be burned over whenever pos- 

 sible in order to kill the spores of fungi, rust and insects, which 

 might have found lodgment. Mow the tops off and stir up the 

 mulch if it is quite thick, rake off all except just enough to cause the 

 fire to run over the ground; only a little is needed to do this. 



But the burning must be done immediately after picking season 

 is over. It must not be burned after the new growth is started. A 

 strong wind must prevail to drive the fire over the ground rapidly 

 when there will be no danger of heating the crowns, and they must 

 be cultivated the same day after burning. While some extensive 

 growers a new bed each year is preferred. 



