METHODS OF PLANTING STRAWBERRIES. 135 



and do well ou almost any soil that will raise a good crop of corn; 

 consequently, the soil is of minor importance. I would prefer a 

 north slope and not very sandy, for the following reasons: In this 

 section our berries are injured more from late frosts than from any 

 other cause, therefore, the later we can have them bloom the better. 

 The ground does not thaw out as early in the spring as on a south 

 slope ; so there is less danger from frost on a north slope. The 

 more sand there is in the soil the sooner they will start, so I would 

 not want it very sandy. I would, however, prefer some sand in the 

 soil. 



After the location has been selected, the next step is the prepara- 

 tion of the soil. Unless there is clay very close to the surface, the 

 land should be plowed deep in the fall and manured during winter 

 or spring ; plowed again quite shallow and the surface worked up 

 fine, when it will be ready for the plants. 



There are various methods of planting, but I will mention only a 

 few of them. One way practiced in some localities is to remove 

 some dirt with the hand from where you wish to set the plant, insert 

 the plant in the hole thus made and draw the dirt around the roots 

 and firm it. Where the ground is mellow this is quite a rapid 

 method, but is open to the objection that dry dirt from the surface 

 is placed next to the roots, and in a dry time they are liable to dry 

 out. 



Another method used a great deal in this state is with the spade. 

 This takes two men or a man and a boy. One man inserts the spade 

 into the ground where the plant is to be set and pushes the handle 

 fromhim, thus pressing the dirt to one side. Another man or boy fol- 

 lows with the plants,and inserts the roots of one, after spreading them 

 out nicely, in the hole. The spade is then withdrawn and inserted 

 about four inches to one side, and pressed toward the plant, pressing 

 the dirt up to the roots. The only objection to this method that I 

 can think of is the difficulty of properly firming the ground around 

 the bottoms of the roots, and that it takes two to plant them this way. 



I will mention only one other method, and that is the dibble or 

 trowel. It is used the same as the spade in making the hole, but the 

 ground is firmed around the roots with the fingers and the dibble, 

 thus getting it packed firmly around the roots at the bottom 

 and all the way up. This method gets the roots down into the moist 

 ground, admits of firming the ground all the way up, and is as 

 economical of labor as any that has come to my notice. It is the 

 only one that stands the test when judged by the three rules men- 

 tioned above, and I believe the most successful one in actual 

 practice. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Wedge: I would like to ask Mr. Underwood if he uses 

 in common practice the transplanter he mentioned here some 

 years ago, or is it used only under certain conditions? 



The President: If you have soil where you can use the trans 

 planter it is very much superior to any other method, and we 

 do not plant any other way. I do not suppose you could use it 



