HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 37 



red clay, about the consistency of thick cream, so that it will ad- 

 here to the roots. Plant at once. Have one person drop the 

 plants along the line, and two others set them out as fast as 

 dropped with a steel dibble, pressing the soil firm about the 

 roots, with the crown of the plants level with the surface 

 ground. If the ground is dry, one good wetting is all the 

 plants will require. Cultivate frequently with a light five-tooth 

 cultivator, especially after a rain, as soon as the soil will admit. 

 If the plants are well taken care of, they will make a fine showing, 

 and the next season will produce a crop of large and fancy fruit, 

 such as will sell at a high price. 



This is our favorite way of growing strawberries. The most of 

 the cultivation is done before the plants are set out. They will 

 fruit themselves to death the first year and are plowed under as 

 soon as done fruiting. In this way, if the plants are free from 

 disease in the start, there will be but little danger of blight or other 

 disease. 



For spring planting, the ground should be prepared the year 

 before by deep plowing the last of August or the first of Septem- 

 ber. It should be harrowed level and smooth, and a good dressing 

 of well rotted manure spread evenly over it the first of October. 

 The following spring, about the loth of May, plow again and har- 

 row until the ground is in good condition to set the plants. Set the 

 plants out about the 20th of May, a foot apart in the rows and rows 

 40 inches apart. Remove all buds and blossoms from the plants 

 and allow none to fruit the first season set out. Handle carefully 

 and set the plants as recommended for fall planting. 



When to cultivate is a question of much importance in all crops 

 As a general rale, cultivation is done to kill weeds and grass, which 

 is correct as far as it goes; but there are other and more essential 

 causes why we should cultivate. The free circulation of the air in 

 the soil about the roots has much to do with the growth of all 

 plants; when a crust forms on the surface soil it stops circulation 

 and it should be broken up at once by cultivation. This should 

 also be done after a rain, as soon as the ground will permit. During 

 a long or a short drouth the surface soil should be frequently 

 stirred to the depth of two or three inches, which, with the assist- 

 ance of the air will draw moisture. 



In cultivating strawberry plants, care should be taken not to hill 

 up the plants; keep the ground as level as possible. When the 

 plants throw out runners, cultivate but one way and carry the run- 

 ners to matted rows, and always keep an open space of 15 or 20 

 inches between the rows. Those set in the fall seldom send out 

 runners. 



Late in the fall, when the season's growth is over, give the matted 

 rows of plants a light dressing of well rotted and fine mauure, and 

 do the same to those set in the fall, but not to those grown for 

 plants. We consider this of great importance, which we will ex- 

 plain further on. 



After the first permanent fall of snow, mulch the fruiting bed 

 and the bed used only to grow plants in. Pat the mulch on top of 



