300 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the depth of eight inches insures plenty of moisture for the plants, 

 provided the surface is kept from encrusting by frequent cultivation 

 with a fine tooth cultivator or rake. 



The best time to kill weeds is when they are below the surface. 

 I have a rake three feet in width with 6od spikes for teeth two inches 

 apart, set at the proper angle for good work, and I like it so well 

 that I often go through the patch with it in preference to the horse 

 and eleven-tooth Planet Jr. with pulverizer attachment, because it 

 runs light and is so quickly and easily turned at the end of the row. 



I advise setting plants as early as the ground can be got in con- 

 dition. April is a good time, and is a little ahead of the rush of 

 spring work. The atmosphere is cool, the soil always damp, and 

 plants set at this time seldom receive any noticeable back-set. 



Rows four feet apart and plants two feet apart in row. I 

 would not set different varieties side by side, but rather ending one 

 to another with sufficient distance between to insure no danger 

 from mixing. 



I set plants with a mason's trowel, putting the roots down to 

 their full length, taking pains to spread them out when placing in 

 position, thereby helping them to quickly gain a foothold on the 

 soil. 



Cut off all runners when they first appear, allowing none to 

 joint until the middle of July, by which method the parent becomes 

 exceedingly vigorous. By this means the ground can be kept per- 

 fectly clean from weeds, which could not have been easily done if 

 the first runners had been left to grow and take root. 



By this time strong runners will put forth from all sides, and by 

 watching for vacant places and training in that direction all the 

 ground will be occupied with plants and no weeds left to sap the 

 soil of fertility and moisture. 



This method, as a rule, brings the hoped for result, but if the 

 exception should threaten and a failure seem inevitable by reason of 

 drouth, and plants do not root, put in the cultivator, although it will 

 crowd the plants along the row, which is fatal to the best results, — 

 but it is the only thing that can be done if many plants are needed. 

 By this method many plants will be covered too deep, but the greater 

 part wall come through and nearly all will take root. I would not, 

 under any circumstances, put in the cultivator till the middle of 

 September, but rather take the chance of a late fall with attending 

 rainfall. I would not use the cultivator on my whole plant bed, but 

 run the risk of a failure on a portion, and if the first method was a 

 success I would know where to get the plants for my own use, and 

 to fill small orders at remunerative prices, and also where to get 



