192 FLORIDA FRUITS SMALL FRUITS. 



to scrape the surface, or, turned perpendicularly, can be 

 thrust deeply between and close to the plants with scarcely 

 any disturbance, yet, by a side twist, drag out the most 

 obstinate weeds when deep among their roots. 



By this system of planting, the ground is as fully occu- 

 pied as it should be ; each plant receives the proper share 

 of attention, the berries are open to light and air on all 

 sides, and the mulching, which is now considered indispen- 

 sable to good culture, is easily applied. 



There is no doubt that a thick mulch around the plants 

 does exercise a very great influence on their thriftiness ; it 

 keeps the land evenly moist, not wet one day and dry the 

 next to the detriment of the surface roots ; it protects the 

 fruit from injury by heavy rains, keeps it out of the dirt, 

 and, to a great extent, prevents the growth of weeds. 



So important is this mulching considered by the straw- 

 berry growers around Charleston, S. C. , that they willingly 

 pay one dollar a bale for pine straw, the collection of which, 

 for this purpose, has become a regular business, and use 

 thirty bales to the acre, covering almost the entire ground. 

 They claim that the expense is amply reimbursed, not only 

 in the increased yield of the plants, but in the saving of 

 expense in keeping down the weeds. The Florida grower 

 has plenty of pine straw at hand, free of cost, save that of 

 gathering; wire-grass or leaves would answer the same 

 purpose, though more liable to be disturbed by the winds. 



And now a few words as to the proper mode of setting 

 out the plants ; this is a very important point, apparently 

 very simple, yet it is very seldom done as it should be. 

 The well-known horticulturist, E. P. Koe, speaks feelingly 

 on this subject as follows : 



" We may secure good plants of the best varieties, but 

 if we do not set them out properly the chances are against 

 our success, unless the weather is very favorable. So much 



