266 Strawberry-Growing 



tions : " Take any iron-bound barrel, except one that has 

 been used for pickles, sauerkraut or vinegar. Remove all 

 hoops but four, and bore four holes in the bottom. Then 

 space five rows of holes, twelve to a row, around the 

 barrel, placing the fifth row five inches from the top, and 

 the bottom row eight inches from the bottom. The 

 holes should be li inches X 3 inches and are made by 

 boring two holes, one above another, with a 1^ inch bit. 

 Put about two inches of fine gravel or coarse sand in the 

 bottom of the barrel ; then fill it with soil to the bottom 

 of the first row of holes. Use clay soil well mixed with 

 rotted manure, and be careful that it is not too wet. 



"WTien planting, put the plants as near the top of the 

 holes as possible, to allow for the settling of the soil. 

 Get in the barrel and tramp the soil solid; then loosen 

 it with a trowel where the plants are to go. Spread the 

 roots out well. Then put soil about half way up to the 

 next row of holes. Now take a common drain tile 12 

 inches long and 3 or 4 inches in diameter; stand it on 

 end in the center of the barrel and fill it with coarse sand. 

 Then fill up the barrel with soil a little above the next 

 row of holes and tramp again. Be careful not to move 

 the tile and get dirt in it. After planting the second 

 row, lift the tile, see that the sand settles, and fill it with 

 sand again. Then put in soil above the next row of 

 holes, tramp and plant that row. Repeat, until the 

 five rows are planted. Don't fail to tramp. 



"After planting the tile remains in the barrel; leave 

 it empty, so as to take the water. Pour water in the 

 tile for the lower rows, and on top of the barrel for the 

 two top rows. It would be impossible to water the lower 

 plants without the tile and the core of sand. Fill the 

 tile about once a day and put about two quarts on the 



