WINTER PROTECTION OF THE STRAWBERJIY. 427 



This late uncovering' will prevent that early start that may bring- 

 the flowering period and late frosts together. The probabil- 

 ities are that this late uncovering will bring the flowering period 

 after the latest frosts of spring. In case frost threatens, take a fork 

 and throw over the plants then in flower of the ample straw which 

 lies between the rows. This is rapidly done. When morning comes, 

 and the danger is past, then with a rake uncover. B}'^ this means we 

 have two checks upon the destruction of the plants by spring frosts. 



In case the plat is not protected by the willow belt as it should be, 

 then this mulching may be held in place by cornstalks that will 

 prevent the scattering of the mulching by the wind. 



Every experienced horticulturist will recognize the value of this 

 mulching to the bed during the second summer. Moisture is kept 

 down; weeds are absolutely unable to grow through it; it luakes a 

 clean bed for the pickers to sit and rest upon; it adds to the beauty 

 of the plat. When fall comes, we take this abundant mulching and 

 put it under the willows to continue its good work of preserving- 

 inoisture for the willows instead of for the strawberries. We take 

 the scythe and cut the tops of the strawberry plants close to the 

 ground, rake everything clean, cultivate with the horse hoe, add 

 fertilizers in the shape of hen manure and ashes, putting ashes upon 

 the plants and hen manure upon the ground; then again we add the 

 abundant mulching as before. Future experience may improve this 

 method, but at the present writing we have found that it has given 

 us abundant success. 



Pres. Underwood: I consider this a very valuable contribu- 

 tion to the subject we have under consideration. I wish very- 

 much Jud^e Moyer was with us this evening, I thinlr that 

 pretty nearly helps us out. 



Judge L. R. Moyer: I would not care very much for the 

 laurel- leaf willov/, because it is a failure up our way. It has 

 blighted and died. The gray willow is all right. There is one 

 important thing Mr. Gregg has brought out, and that is to get 

 protection out there on the prairies of some kind by planting 

 some kind of tree, and he suggests the willow as being the best 

 for that purpose; and you will also notice that he has planted 

 his strawberries six feet apart, and perhaps he has planted 

 them further apart so as to have heavy rows of mulching be- 

 tween. If this is going to give the farmers on the western 

 prairies strawberries, it is certainly a very valuable thing to 

 know. 



I would like to know how to keep those perennial prairie 

 weeds from coming up. 



Pres. Underwood: If you leave enough of that mulching on 

 the row to make a good burning you will have no trouble with 

 weeds, for nothing will grow there except the strawberries. 

 You will have no trouble with weeds. 



