HOKTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 29 



cultivated in some plowed crop for at least two years to free it from 

 the grubs of the June beetle. 



MANURES. 



Without doubt for the commercial grower there is no manure 

 so valuable as well rotted stable manure from grain fed animals, 

 which contains all the uriue. And be it remembered in 

 this connection that the food and age of animals has very 

 much influence on the value of their execrements for purposes of 

 fertilization. If I were going to attempt to raise a prize crop of 

 strawberries, I would use beside stable manure an application of 

 some ammoniated superphosphate spread broadcast over the bed 

 early in the spring of the second year, for the reason that my ex- 

 perience shows it to be very beneficial applied at that time. Such 

 a fertilizer contains much soluble food plant which can be easily 

 and at once taken up by the plants to stimulate plant growth. I 

 am not yet prepared to speak of special manures for this crop in as 

 decided terms for this state, as for.the states east of Ohio, for there 

 we find the cheap potash salts are very efficient fertilizers, 

 especially when used in conjunction with ground or rendered bone. 

 Still, I believe, it will pay to use some of the cheap slaughter- 

 house refuse which so largely gees to waste here at present, as a 

 spring fertilizer. 



PREPARING THE LAND. 



In fitting the land I would plow at least eight inches deep in the 

 fall, and in the spring cross-plow six inches deep, turning in a coat 

 of well rotted stable manure, applied at the rate of ten cords per 

 acre. The land should then be thoroughly harrowed until fine and 

 compact. 



PLANTING. 



Plant always in the spring and just as soon as the young plants 

 have their new leaves developed. Use only well rooted plants of 

 the preceding season's growth. It may do to plant out a small 

 bed in August for the next season's fruiting, if it is desired to 

 hasten a supply for the home garden ; but August planting is too 

 uncertain in its results to be encouraged. The distance which the 

 plants should be from one another will vary much with the variety 

 grown. Some varieties are much stronger runners than others; but 

 for a general rule I would say, plant in rows three and a half 

 feet apart and put the plants at intervals of fifteen inches in the rows. 

 This will insure plenty of room for the growth of most kinds. 



CULTIVATION. 



Keep the weeds down and the soil loose by running the horse 

 cultivator between the rows frequently, gradually narrow up the 

 cultivator as the plants need more room until a path one foot wide 

 only is left between the rows. Such would be my directions for 

 cultivating strawberries on a large area. For garden cultivation, 

 or where extra size is wanted, it is a good plan to cut off all runners 

 after the first few have rooted. Great pains should be taken that 

 the bed goes into winter quarters free from weeds. In growing 



