STRAWBERRIES. CULTIVATION. 307 



1st. The mode adopted by Mr. Keen. 



2d. That adopted by T. A. Knight, Esq. 



3d. Modes of management much approved and in prac- 

 tice near Boston. 



Mr. Keen forms his beds in the spring. The Hautbois 

 and Pines are placed in rows, three feet asunder, and eigh- 

 teen inches in the row ; [other classes at a proportionate 

 distance.] The object in placing them at this great dis- 

 tance is, that there may be room for the feet of the gath- 

 erers ; also room for the vines to spread, to the end of the 

 third year, when the bed is taken up and the ground 

 planted anew. The first year, little fruit is expected the 

 second year, a very great crop the third year, a very mod- 

 erate crop. Mr. Knight condemns this system in part ; 

 his mode is as follows : Like Mr. Keen, he forms his 

 beds in the spring : he places the Pine and Hautbois in 

 rows, sixteen inches asunder, and only eight inches in the 

 row; [other classes at a proportionate distance.] This is 

 from three to four times the number of plants on the same 

 ground as Mr. Keen. Mr. Knight takes off no runners, 

 except for the purpose of forming new beds ; and he thinks 

 he must obtain near twice the produce in the second year, 

 which all acknowledge to be the fruitful year, from the 

 same ground as Mr. Keen. For Mr. Knight leaves no 

 unoccupied ground for the feet of the gatherers; as he 

 considers the amount thus destroyed very inconsiderable, 

 compared with the waste of land. Mr. Knight destroys his 

 beds in the autumn of the second year, after the first great 

 or main crop is taken off". He esteems this the most eco- 

 nomical mode. 



In the vicinity of Boston, the following mode is often 

 adopted : The vines are usually transplanted in August. 

 The rows are formed from eighteen inches to two feet 

 asunder. The runners, during the first year, are destroyed. 

 In the second year, they are suffered to grow and fill the 

 interval, and in the autumn of that year, the whole old rows 

 are turned under with the spade, and the rows are thus 

 shifted to the middle of the space. The same process is 

 repeated every second year. 



Another mode, which may be recommended generally, is 

 to plant the strawberries in rows thirty inches asunder, and 

 nine inches' distant in the row, and suffer the vines to ex- 

 tend to the width of eighteen inches, leaving twelve inches' 



