Rotations, Manuring and Fertilizing 49 



ington, depleted land is brought into condition with one 

 or two green-manuring crops of winter vetch, followed 

 by some tilled crop the year before strawberries are 

 planted. 



COMPANION CROPS 



The low habit and restricted growth of the strawberry 

 plant makes it possible to grow many kinds of crops with 

 it, not primarily to improve the soil, but in order to occupy 

 all of the land. This is practiced mainly by market- 

 gardeners and orchardists; it is not common in general 

 field culture. 



Vegetables used as fillers between strawberries. 



In most companion cropping, vegetables are used 

 which are harvested before the strawberries need the en- 

 tire use of the land. Irish potatoes have been used 

 largely for this purpose, especially in the Central and 

 Southern states. In the Norfolk district, potatoes are 

 planted in February, in rows five feet apart. Extra 

 early varieties are used, especially Irish Cobbler. As 

 soon as the potatoes have sprouted enough to mark the 

 rows plainly, strawberries are set midway between 

 (Plate III). The potatoes are dug about June first. On 

 Long Island, potatoes are dug about July 10th, and snap 

 beans, cabbages or turnips are planted in the same 

 place. The strawberries may be set in rows three feet 

 apart each way, with a hill of early potatoes between 

 each two plants. The strawberries are not allowed to 

 run until the potatoes are dug. 



Early dwarf sweet corn, pop-corn and early maturing 

 dwarf varieties of field corn, are used as companion crops 

 in the Northern and Central states. The strawberries are 



