130 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



All of these varieties need covering with earth in winter and 

 uncovering in the spring, and the land must again be leveled. 

 As the field grows old it requires the moving of an immense 

 quantity of earth, which at the present price of labor becomes an 

 important factor in the cost of production. The laying down 

 breaks many canes and weakens the roots of many more. These 

 can never be made to stand upright and when loaded with fruit 

 will bend to the ground, and dirty berries will result. The work 

 of cultivating and gathering is also made more difficult. 



For these reasons I am inclined to think it best to plant such 

 varieties as are hardy enough to stand our winters without cover, 

 even though they may not be such heavy yielders. The only 

 variety of this kind which I have tried is the King, but 1 am told 

 there are others. 



If I had reasonably level ground and planted a hardy variety, 

 I would plant, in hills five feet apart and cultivate each way. If 

 I had hilly ground, or if I planted a tender variety, I would plant 

 in rows six feet apart, with plants three and one-half feet apart, 

 in the row, and cultivate but one way. The plants that had been 

 laid down would lean so much that cross cultivation would be 

 impossible. I would cultivate at least once a week through the 

 picking season, both to keep down weeds and to retain the 

 moisture in the soil. Cultivate as soon after each rain as the 

 ground can be worked without packing. 



I would keep the land level by means of the hoe if necessary, 

 and if any biennial or perennial weeds, such as fireweed, dande- 

 lion, clover or bluegrass, appeared in the hills late in the fall 

 would hoe them out. Don't let them get a start ; they will make 

 lots of trouble if you do. 



I would employ no children as pickers. They will require 

 constant watching, will crush the berries and will_ leave many 

 berries to become overripe and spoil the next picking. If pos- 

 sible, at the beginning of the season engage pickers who will 

 stay with you to the end. Not those who want to work a few 

 days for the novelty, but those who want to earn wages. 



Either pack the boxes in the cases yourself or have it done by 

 some careful person. No overripe berries, leaves or dirty berries 

 should be packed. Boxes should be uniformly full but not so 

 full that the upper tier in the case would crush the berries be- 

 low. This is about as bad as scant measure. Have the pickers 

 use care to keep the berries in the shade as much as possible, as 

 the hot sun often scalds them. 



Berries are often very hot when brought into the packing 

 shed. Let them set in the shade and cool before being put in the 

 case. After they are packed, lose no time in getting them on the 

 market. 



