FRUIT ON THE FARM 147 



Setting of Plants. — Strawberry plants may be set out 

 at any time, from early spring until midsummer, provided 

 the plants are strong and the ground moist. Tlie earlier 

 they are set, however, the better, as they then have a longer 

 growing season and the roots seem to form more abundantly 

 in the cooler weather of spring. 



In setting the plants, the roots should be shaken or 

 spread out as naturally as possible and the dirt firmly 

 packed about them. Care must be taken to set the plants 

 the right depth. The terminal bud should not be hidden, 

 yet the upper portion of the root should be well covered. 

 The safe rule is to set the plants as nearly as possible the 

 depth they were before. 



System of Planting. — Strawberries are either set in hills 

 three by three feet apart, or in matted rows. When set 

 in matted rows, the common practice is to set out single 

 rows four feet apart, plants twelve inches apart in the rows. 

 The runners are then allowed to cover a space of from six 

 to nine inches on either side of the plants, making a matted 

 row from twelve to eighteen inches wide and leaving a space 

 of from thirty to thirty-six inches between the rows for 

 cultivation and convenience in harvesting. This space may 

 be reduced, and there is one advantage in the narrower 

 space — i. e., the runners may be allowed to occupy it and 

 the old row be plowed up. This saves resetting. 



Cultivation. — Cultivation should be shallow, yet deep 

 enough to destroy weeds and frequent enough to keep the 

 surface well pulverized and to maintain a surface mulch. 

 Moisture is then more readily admitted and evaporation is 

 checked to a considerable extent. 



Care must be taken to keep the plants from getting 

 too thick in the row. If too tluck, they are less vigorous 

 and produce smaller and poorer berries. When set in rows, 

 enough new plants may be set to make a continuous row 12 to 

 18 inches wide, with plants not nearer together than 6 inches. 



To protect t}ie plants from frequent freezing and thaw- 

 ing, a mulch is applied. It is usually of coarse material, 

 as hay, corn stalks, or str-^w, and is applied late in autumn 

 or in the early winter. It should protect the plants, ye|; 

 not smother them. Ordiii:Ui!y it should be about three 



