34 Strawberry-Growing 



of the row and in the middle are used to guide the plow- 

 man, as in laying off for corn. Unless the man and the 

 mule are equally adept the rows are only approximately 

 straight. This method is useful when the land is so 

 stony that the dibble cannot be used to advantage, and 

 on steep land, where it is necessary to follow the contour. 

 The plants are set against the land-side. 



A light peg marker is used most, especially for the 

 matted row. In a piece of two by three inch scantling, 

 twelve to eighteen feet long, preferably of white pine or 

 other light wood, set wooden or gas-pipe pegs about 

 eighteen inches long. The teeth should slope backward a 

 little. There should be a number of holes in which to 

 put the pegs, so that the spacing can be varied. Some 

 use chains, instead of pegs, but these are easily deflected 

 by clods and stones. If the marker is to be pulled by a 

 horse, attach ordinary shafts ; if by a man, use shorter 

 and lighter shafts set closer together. An upright strip is 

 nailed to each end of the head piece ; a man follows the 

 marker with his hand on this guide piece, to see that the 

 inside peg runs exactly on the line made by the outside 

 peg on the previous round. Lay off first a straight row 

 on one side of the field with a line; if this base line is 

 straight, subsequent rows should be straight. Some 

 mark one way with a corn or potato-planter and check 

 with a very light peg marker twenty-eight feet long and 

 drawn by hand. 



A sled marker is preferred for some soils, especially 

 when the land is marked but one way. This may be 

 made of tw^o by six inch scantlings, rounded at the 

 front end, nailed to two two by twelve inch planks, 

 and provided with shafts. For small fields and mellow 

 soils, the runners may be made of one inch boards two 



