STRAWBERRY 345 



this is advisable only for small patches or when the soil 

 is in the best possible condition and the highest culture is 

 given. For garden culture, it may pay to secure potted 

 plants (Fig. 227). These are sold by many nurserymen, 

 and they may be obtained by plunging pots beneath the 

 runners as soon as the fruiting season is passed. In 

 August, the plant should fill the pot (which should be 

 three -inch or four -inch) and the plant is ready for setting 

 in the plantation. Such plants should bear a good crop 

 the following spring. 



With the highest culture, good results can be obtained 

 from the hill system of growing strawberries. For this 

 the plants may be set in rows three feet apart and one 

 foot in the row, or if it be worked both ways, they may 

 be from two to two and one -half feet each way. In the 

 small garden, where a horse cannot be used, the plants are 

 frequently set one foot each way, arranging them in beds 

 of from three to five rows, with walks two feet wide 

 between them. As fast as runners form, they should be 

 removed, so that the entire vigor of the plant will be 

 exerted in strengthening the crown. When extra fine 

 specimen berries are desired, the plant may be held above 

 the ground by a wire frame, as shown in Fig. 228. 



During the first season strawberries should be frequently 

 worked, rather deep at first, but as the weather becomes 

 warm and the roots fill the ground, it should be restricted 

 to a depth of not more than two inches. The weeds 

 should never be allowed to get a start, and if the season 

 is dry, cultivation should be so fre- 

 quent that the surface soil should at 

 all times be loose and open, forming 

 a dust mulch to conserve the mois- 

 ture. If the fall is moist and the 

 plantation free from weeds, there 

 will be little occasion for cultivation 



990 



after the first of September, until just 



