EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 311 



The liet]f»e row system consists of setting the plants close together 

 and allowing the rnnners to grow only in the spaces between tlieso 

 plants and, Avhen the s])ace is filled with plants, all other runners are 

 cut off. Thus the row should not be wider than the space occupied by 

 one plant. 



In the hill system, the plants are set quite close together and no run- 

 ners allowed to grow. This is the most intensive system as all the 

 vitality of the plant goes into producing fruit buds. The fruit is gen- 

 erally of exceptional size and quality and each plant produces a large 

 number of berries. This system should be used if the finest berries are 

 desired. 



The distance for setting the plants depends upon the system and the 

 variety used. In the matted row system, the rows should be three and 

 one-half feet apart and the plants set two feet apart in the row. Varie- 

 ties that make numerous runners, such as the Dunlap, can be set farther 

 apart in the row, while the varieties that make but few runners should 

 be set closer together. 



For the hedge row and hill system, the plants should be set one and 

 one-half feet apart, in rows one and one-half to two feet apart. In the 

 hill system one and one-half feet is sufficient. A greater distance would 

 not be economy of ground. It is advisable to use varieties that do not 

 make very many runners for the hedge row and hill systems. 



The narrow matted row, is the best for general strawberry growing. 

 It is the most commonly used and does not need the extra work and 

 special care to make it a success that the more intensive methods do. 



It is advisable to cut off all the runners from the newly set plants 

 about the middle of June so that the plants may become strong and well 

 established. All the blossoms should be cut off during the first season. 



MULCHING. 



After the growth has stopped in the fall and before the ground freezes 

 hard, the plantation should be covered with some mulching material. 

 Straw is commonly used for this purpose but almost anything will do 

 if it is free from weed seeds. Marsh hay is excellent. Stable manure 

 is not advisable as it almost always contains weed seeds. 



As soon as the growth starts in the spring the mulch should be taken 

 off from the plan'ts and left between the rows. This will help to keep 

 the fruit clean at ripening time and also conserve the soil moisture. If 

 the plantation is in a frosty place, it is well to only take off a portion 

 of the mulch at first, leaving enough to check the plants but not enough 

 to smother them. After the danger from frosts is past this can be taken 

 off or the plants may be allowed to grow up through it. If it is de- 

 sirable to hasten the ripening of the fruit, it is best to take the mulch- 

 ing off, or if late ripening is desired, let the plants grow up through it. 



During the ripening period, it is advisable to have the mulching 

 close to the plants along the edges of the rows so the berries on the 

 outside plants will rest upon the mulching intead of on the ground. 



RENEWING PLANTATIONS. 



Many growers allow the plantation to bear only one season, as they 

 believe the cost of renewing an old bed is almost as great as starting a 



