170 



MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



they are when set out after a corn marker. The best and probably 

 the fastest way to set out the plants is with a spade. It generally 

 requires a man and a boy for one force. There are various dis- 

 tances to plant strawberries, but it depends on tlie variety and on 

 the fertility of the soil. All the blossoms should be picked ofif the 

 first year, as it will give the plants more strength to develop. 



As soon as the planting is done the ground should be cultivated 

 with a fine tooth cultivator, and it should be worked twice a week 

 if possible through May and June, thus making the plants grow 

 rapidly and killing the weeds before they get to have strong roots 

 and at the same time pulverizing the ground to conserve the moisture 

 in the soil. Some hoeing is necessary around the plants and should 

 be done as often as a crust forms on the ground or weeds appear 

 to come, and if done in time they will not require much hand work. 



Strawberry picking generally begins about the loth or 15th of 

 June and continues through the month. All the necessary prep- 

 arations for the harvesting of the crop should be made before 

 this. The boxes and crates should all have been made up and 

 the pickers for the season engaged. 



Mr. Vahnke's raspberry field in winter. 



Raspberries should be planted before May, but if delayed can 

 still be planted if attended to at once. If you have the plants near 

 for digging you can do the work successfully. They will do best 



