114 Strawberry-Growing 



Northwest, clover hay is used occasionally, especially 

 the last fruiting year of the field. Timothy hay is ob- 

 jectionable, as it is full of weed seeds, and timothy itself 

 is a weed in the strawberry field. 



Other kinds of farm herbage are used occasionally, 

 such as bean pods, bean vines, hop vines, potato vines, 

 sorghum begasse and pomace. Flax straw is excellent; 

 it lies close to the plants, but does not smother them. 

 When removed in the spring, the bolls and chaff cover 

 the ground and protect the fruit. Tobacco stems are 

 of doubtful value, although they promote the growth of 

 the plants. In the Norfolk district strawberries fre- 

 quently are planted between rows of early cabbage, which 

 are followed by snap beans or peas; the vines of these 

 crops are left on the ground to assist the crab-grass in 

 mulching the strawberries. 



Mulches of wild herbage. 



Many kinds of wild herbage may be used to advantage. 

 Marsh hay, whether salt or fresh, is excellent; also 

 prairie hay in the Mississippi Valley, and crab-grass, or 

 wire-grass hay in the South. These wild hays usually are 

 quite free from weed seeds. The small amount of salt 

 in salt marsh hay does not injure the strawberry plants. 

 In northern Vermont and on the Pacific coast where 

 ferns and brakes grow luxuriantly, these are cut for a 

 mulch. The leaves of various deciduous trees are used 

 on small plantations in the North. Pine leaves or pine 

 "straw" is the standard mulching material of the South, 

 especially for keeping the berries clean. A leaf mulch 

 should be light, rarely over two inches deep ; if heavier, 

 the plants may be smothered. 



Wood moss is used sometimes, especially in Maine. 



