APPENDIX. 123 
prevents the plants from being drawn out and weak- 
ened, or destroyed by freezing and thawing in winter. 
We have sometimes covered the entire beds, plants and 
all, with newly-fallen leaves; and by raking them off 
early in spring, the plants came out in fine order. In 
the same way we have covered with clean wheat straw, 
and found it answer well. In all the Northern and 
Western States, some winter protection is of great ser- 
vice, although not indispensable. In field culture, the 
earth might be ploughed up to the plants, as is done 
with nursery trees, in such a manner as to afford con- 
siderable protection again the action of frost on the root. 
As soon as the fruit begins to attain its full size, and 
approach maturity, the spaces between the rows, which 
up to this time have been under clean culture, should 
be covered with straw, litter, or moss. This will serve 
the double purpose of keeping the fruit clean and retain- 
ing the moisture in the soil. When copious supplies 
of water are to be applied, which should always be done 
when practicable, stable litter is a good mulching, as 
the water poured on it carries down with it to the roots 
of the plants the fertilizing materials which it contains. 
The application of water in abundance we must again 
recommend to all who want the finest fruit. Rains are 
very good, but they cannot be relied upon, and they 
always deprive the fruit of its flavor, while artificial 
waterings do not. On this account the French garden- 
ers say that the strawberry “prefers water from the 
well to water from the clouds.” It is supposed that 
the electricity which pervades the atmosphere during 
our summer rains, affects the flavor of the fruit. 
When the crop has been gathered, the mulching ma- 
