286 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
bending them over until the tops touch the ground, then shovel on dirt 
sufficient to held them down, leaving the center of the cane from one to two 
feet from the ground. If they bend them much lower than this they are 
sure to break most of the best canes, and when they are finally through 
they have given very little protection to the berry patch. 
In protecting my canes from the severe winters of this climate, I cover 
them completely with earth, so that no part of the cane is exposed. In lay- 
ing the canes down I use a potato fork, loosening and removing some of 
the dirt from one side of the hill, then placing the fork on the opposite 
side of the hill and pressing it the full length of the tines into the soil. 
Taking hold of the end of the fork handle with the right hand, I pass the 
left arm around the bush near the top, and by pulling on the end of the 
fork handle, and pressing with the left arm I bend the whole hill, mostly 
in the root, and lay it flat on the ground. My helper shovels on enough 
dirt to hold the canes in place. All plants in the row are laid in the same 
direction, and each year they are bent the opposite way from which they 
were the year before. They lie down much better when reversed each year. 
When the canes are carefully laid down, I have a system of plowing which 
we follow to expedite the work. I prefer a 14-inch plow with a long mould- 
board. I use two horses and a set of short whiffletrees and evener. On 
each side of the row I plow a furrow about four inches deep, turning the 
furrow onto the row. Most of the canes are covered with the plow, but a 
man follows with a shovel and covers what the plow leaves. As I have said, 
when the work is finished none of the canes are to be seen. I have used a 
12-inch plow with one horse. This does very well but takes more time. 
Mr. Eddy: I do not think you would get close.enough to 
the row by using two horses. 
Mr. Wright: You can set the plow over far enough by using 
a short evener and whiffletrees from the mower. I tried to straddle 
the row, but I could not make that work. 
Mr, Jewett: How long does it take to cover an acre? 
Mr. Wright: I have never covered an acre from beginning to 
end. It takes two men a day to cover half an acre and it takes two 
or three hours to do the plowing and perhaps a half day’s shoveling. 
Mr. Yahnke: How far apart are your rows? 
Mr. Wright: Eight feet. 
Mr. Burnap (Iowa): How about taking them up in the spring? 
Mr. Wright: Begin at the opposite end of the row where you 
laid them down in the fall and work back on the row. 
Mr. Burnap: What tool do you use? 
Mr. Wright: I do it all with the fork. 
Mr, Jewett: What time do you take them up in the spring? 
Mr. Wright: When the buds begin to swell. 
The President: Is there any danger after you do take them 
up? . 
Mr. Wright: I never lost any by frost. 
The President: Have you had any trouble with canes becom- 
ing exposed by rains washing off the soil? 
