CULTIVATION. FF 
consequently, it is seldom or never used about the beds 
after the first month’s planting. The reason is, the 
numerous fibrous roots so interlace and fill the ground 
for a space of six or eight inches around the plant, 
coming so completely to the surface, that the use of - 
the hoe will cut off great numbers of these little roots, 
and we are unwilling to have our plants maimed in 
this way. It certainly greatly injures their bearing. 
The fork or spade should be kept at the same distance, 
for the same reason. The only time, during the year, 
we loosen the soil in our beds with the fork, is imme- 
diately at the close of the season of bearing, selecting 
the time when the ground is moist. And yet, we repeat, 
the strawberries must be kept clean; and the reader 
may here see a reason for all the minute and particular 
description we have given in the preparation. It 
needs to be thoroughly done, because it cannot well 
be remedied afterwards. The plants will not admit of 
freely working among them, except with the hand, if 
not kept at an unusual distance from each other, with- 
out largely reducing the crop of fruit. If our object 
is large and abundant fruit, the roots must not be 
disturbed. 
One qualification to the above: When new plants 
are set, unless prevented by mulching immediately, 
we, as often as every three days or week, for a month 
or so, hoe or rake the ground freely, and always stir 
