l8o SMALL FRUITS. 



require a staminate variety near them for this pur- 

 pose. (See Fig. i, page 87.) 



As "Nature abhors self-fertilization" it is found 

 that the results are not so good where we rely upon 

 the former alone as where both are mingled. These 

 words are abbreviated by the use of "S" for the 

 former and "P" for the latter, and are generally 

 used in the proportion of two of the pistilates to 

 one of the staminates. They may be mingled in 

 the same row for home use, but for market the 

 rows are alternated, in order to keep the fruit 

 separate which adds to its appearance. It is also 

 recommended that the same rule shall be followed 

 for the home as well. Try to forget that there is 

 to be a "strawberry bed" but plant in long rows. 

 This is not so necessary in town, in small gardens 

 as in the country where there is supposed to be 

 more room for this purpose, and the object is to 

 save hand labor by using the horse and cultivator. 

 (This will apply equally as well to all such veget- 

 ables as are usually grown in "beds".) 



Select a good piece of rich ground that is not 

 foul with weed seed, and has not been manured 

 recently with cow manure, as it is apt to be full of 

 white grubs, which are very destructive to the 

 plants. Plow it deeply and carefully to turn under 

 all trash upon the top that may contain foul seed, 

 and smooth with the "planker" or clod crusher, 

 one of the cheapest and best of all the farm imple- 

 ments. The ground being smooth and in the best 

 possible condition, stretch a line across and walk 



