Small Fruits 227 



The worn-out strawberry bed should be plowed up 

 for some late vegetable crop as soon as it has 

 fruited. 



Throw all surplus mulch into the aisles. It 

 retains moisture. 



To can strawberries so that they will not lose their 

 shape, place them in jars with alternate layers of 

 sugar; keep them in a cool place overnight, then 

 put them into a hot syrup of sugar and water, let 

 them boil up gently, put into cans, and seal. 



To prevent strawberries and raspberries from losing 

 their color when canned, place brown paper bags 

 over the jars when setting up. 



Hard-wood ashes used in" connection with well- 

 rotted stable manure make an excellent fertilizer 

 for the strawberry bed. Ashes provide potash which 

 is much appreciated by the strawberry plants. 



GENERAL 



All the small fruits, i. e., berries, require a well- 

 drained loamy soil. Heavy clay or adobe soil 

 will grow these fruits, but the best results are ob- 

 tained on soils that are more open and porous. 



