CARE OF THE SOIL IN THE STRAWBERRY FIELD. 179 



The cultivator should be started as soon after planting as pos- 

 sible and kept at it at least once every week through the entire grow- 

 ing season. In case of rain it is best to get on to the ground as soon 

 after as the soil permits. The necessity of a compact soil, well culti- 

 vated on the surface, for the conservation of moisture, is a lesson 

 that was impressed upon many of us by the past season. 



The aim is to cultivate as close as possible to the plants or newly 

 set runners and by going the same way each time keep the runners 

 pushed in in one direction. 



Before the runners have set, it will probably be necessary to go 

 over them one or more times with the hand weeder, depending on 

 how weedy the land was and how well the work of preparation was 

 attended to. For this purpose the Lang weeder commends itself, 

 and no person doing any gardening should be without one. It 

 costs but a few cents and pays for itself in a few hours' work. 

 What weeds show themselves after the runners have set will have 

 to be pulled by hand and not allowed to go to seed. 



Among the newer implements that promise to be of value in this 

 connection the Hallock weeder comes highly recommended by those 

 who have used it or seen it at work. 



There is also a new form of cultivator having hoes instead of 

 teeth, which in most sections is bound to be a desirable implement 

 for the thoughtful planter. The weeds get too much of a start at 

 times to clean out with the harrow tooth cultivator, and it is then 

 that this implement is needed, and a clean job is assured without the 

 necessity of deeper cultivation. , 



To the berry grower this matter of soil preparation and care 

 thereof cannot receive too much attention, as the lessened expense 

 of bringing a patch into bearing is one of the best openings for in- 

 creasing profits. 



A PLEA FOR OUR TREES. 



PROF. MARIA I.. SANFORD, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. 



(A Talk.) 



I am very glad of the privilege to speak before a society that has 

 done as much as this one in making beautiful and making comfort- 

 able our homes and our cities, and before I begin to speak on this 

 special topic I wish to talk upon I want to say one word, if I may, in 

 regard to this very interesting subject that we have had before us, 

 and that one word is that it pays. When you have in your good 

 work such a motive as this you have great hope of getting on — and 

 in your effort to enlighten and educate the people if you will only 

 set before them the picture of two towns or two villages such as I 

 saw in a journey through Pennsylvania recently, one of them the 



