FORTIETH ANNUAL REPORT. 145 



that energy; we formerly cut off the first runners, but we have aban- 

 doned that practice; now we let them throw out runners, and when a 

 damp time comes, these runners are separated out and the young plants 

 are placed where needed in the row. Let them run along until perhaps 

 September when there is a moist time and by keeping out the cultivator 

 for a couple of weeks, the runners have a chance to go across the rows 

 and 'then the rolling cutters cut these pflf, leaving a row fifteen or eight- 

 een inches wide. In this way, we get a good row system. Then we go 

 through varieties which form too many plants with hoes which are cut 

 down to three or three and a half inches wide, shaving crosswise of the 

 row. We leave a strip across the row and shave off another strip just 

 deep enough to cut off the crowns of the plants. If you do not cut 

 deep enough to cut off the plants, continue going a little deeper. 



You cannot grow the best crop of some varieties of strawberries, with- 

 out thinning any more than you can grow first prize corn with a dozen 

 stalks in a hill. Of course this will depend upon varieties. The War- 

 field and Dunlap will grow more plants than some others and they are 

 liable to become weeds. A weed is a plant out of place. When two 

 strawberry plants are where one only should be then one of the plants 

 is a weed and should be removed. This is much better done early. Re- 

 move that robber plant so that the rightful occupant of the ground may 

 have an unobstructed feeding ground. 



We begin mulching along about the middle of November. We do 

 not wait until the ground freezes up — we began this year about the 

 middle of November and we are nearly done by this time. We use wheat 

 straw, oat straw, and sometimes some other material. This question of 

 mulching is a problem that is quite a puzzle in many localities. Some 

 use marsh hay. Some have grown mulching materials by sowing corn. 

 Some sow oats among the plants but I never had faith enough in that 

 to try it. You know that during August and September it is pretty 

 dry and a growth of oats or barley is robbing the plants of just so 

 much moisture which they should really have in building up a good, 

 strong system so it looks to me as though it was a positive damage to 

 the plant rather than a help. Some use manure but this is usually 

 so full of weed seed that it makes a lot of trouble in the spring. You 

 should cover just deep enough to hide the plant. You can use most 

 anything for a mulch that will do this. 



in order that strawberries prove a profitable crop from a commercial 

 standpoint you must give attention to the matter of variety which your 

 market demands. If you cater to a nearby market, you will find that 

 you will not be very apt to pay much attention to firmness at least not 

 so much as you will to whether the berries are of a dark or light color. 

 Some localities require a berry that is a light color while others require 

 a dark red berry. Under our conditions we grow a great many cherries 

 so we can not grow late varieties of strawberries. On the other hand, 

 early varieties with us are not very profitable as a rule because our 

 markets are filled up witli berries from the South, so we naturally take 

 the middle of the road class such as the Highland, Dunlap, Warfield. 

 Some of our neighbors have other varieties and do well with them. There 

 is one new variety lately introduced which was originated somewhere 

 out in Missouri. One year's experience with them has been very satis- 

 factory to us. They make an ideal row, are strong hardy plants, fruit 

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