Planting 19 



bed is very essential at that time of the year. Sandy 

 soils, unless covered with herbage, should be plowed in 

 early spring. The essential point is to plow early enough 

 so that the soil will be firm and the herbage decayed 

 before the plants are set; in some localities this means 

 fall plowing ; in others, winter or spring plowing. 



The depth to plow depends mainly on the nature of 

 the soil, incidentally on the method of culture. Before 

 1860, strawberries were commonly grown in land that 

 had been trenched about two feet deep. Trenching has 

 not been necessary, even in the home garden, since the 

 introduction of the Wilson. Subsoiling is a more modern 

 substitute for trenching. Light soils, particularly if the 

 subsoil is open, are not benefited by subsoiling and may 

 be injured. When strawberries are planted on clay land 

 that has a tight subsoil close to the surface, there may 

 be some benefit from subsoiling. In most cases, deep 

 plowing in the fall or early winter is preferable to subsoil- 

 ing. On many soils under-drainage secures permanently 

 the beneficial results that subsoiling secures temporarily. 



Fitting the land. 



There is special need of compactness; if strawberries 

 are set upon a loose or lumpy soil the stand will be poor. 

 If possible, fit the land a week or ten days before planting. 

 The final harrowing should be shallow in order that the 

 soil may not dry out deeply. If the soil is heavy, the 

 surface lumps should be reduced with a pulverizer, 

 planker or drag, but not with the roller. Sandy soils 

 should be rolled until quite compact. If the soil is not 

 firm at planting time, subsequent rains will compact it, 

 leaving the crowns of the plants high above the surface. 

 A plank drag is preferable to a harrow for the last working 



