toys Rural School Leaflet. 



The soil. — The best soils for the strawberry are sandy or sandy loams. 

 These soils are light, porous, and warm, and the berries grow quickly on 

 them. The raspberry prefers the heavier soils, such as a sandy loam 

 or clay loam, and a cool spot with an abundance of moisture. The 

 currant will grow on almost any soil but does best on the clays. It 

 prefers a moist spot. 



Planting. — Strawberry. Plant the different varieties in rows side 

 by side so that the flowers of one variety will fertilize the flowers of the 

 other. The strawberry does not fruit well when the varieties are separ- 

 ated. The berries grow small and gnarly. This is overcome by plant- 

 ing one variety beside another. 



Mark off the rows about four feet apart and set the plants about 

 eighteen inches apart in the row. Dig the hole broad and nearly flat 

 with a raised place in the center. Take the plant in the hand, turn it 

 upside down and shake it, spreading out the roots. Then quickly 

 turn the plant back and place it in the hole so that the crown rests on 

 the raised area in the middle and the roots spread out naturally around 

 the plant. Cover the roots with dirt and pack this down firmly. Set 

 the plant deep enough so that the crown is even with the top of the 

 ground and yet do not cover the growing bud in the center. 



Another method of setting the plants is to use a garden dibble or any 

 other tool with a broad blade. Push this into the ground, making a 

 broad and deep hole, and set the plants in this hole, spreading out the 

 roots as much as possible. Then firmly press the soil back around the 

 roots. The large patches are planted in this way. 



Care during the summer will consist in cultivating between the rows 

 and hoeing between the plants to keep down the weeds. As the runners 

 grow place them between the plants or close to the plants so as to form 

 a matted row about twelve inches wide. 



Currants and raspberries. Currants and raspberries should be set 

 in rows about six feet apart and the plants three or four feet apart in 

 the row. Dig the hole with a spade or shovel a little deeper than is 

 necessary and throw ba,ck into the bottom of the hole a shovelful of 

 fine surface soil. Take the plant, cut off the broken roots and set it 

 in the hole. Throw the dirt back carefully and at the same time spread 

 out the roots to their natural position. Fill the hole and pack the dirt 

 down firmly. The currant and raspberry should be cultivated and 

 hoed during the summer to keep down the weeds. 



