Strawberry Culture 29 



tion, not more than three inches should be applied. Mr. Joseph 

 Hay wood, one of the most successful growers in Pennsylvania, 

 covers his beds with three inches of stable manure, and lets the 

 plants grow through it. Straw is the most common covering, 

 but any kind of litter will answer. Snow is perhaps the best of 

 all if we were sure of having it. 



Early Spring Treatment 



If the winter covering is of such a character that it cannot 

 easily be removed, it is common to let the plants grow up 

 through it, and then pull up whatever weeds may come. It is 

 more satisfactory to remove the covering from the bed and keep 

 the surface stirred until it is time to mulch, for the purpose of 

 keeping the fruit clean. Stirring the surface encourages a more 

 rapid growth and will result in fine fruit. Moisture will be re- 

 tained and the bed will be in good condition for the fruit to 

 reach maturity. If a late frost comes the warmth will rise from 

 the bare ground and help to keep it off. The mulch may be 

 returned just before the fruit commences to ripen. Years ago 

 I was careful not to stir the ground in the spring lest the roots 

 might be injured, but I have had reason to change my mind on 

 that point. 



One of the most skillful growers in the country digs up all 

 his plants about the first of November, and heels them in quite 

 close together in frames where they are well covered. Early in 

 the spring they are planted in rows twenty inches apart, and 

 not over six inches from each other in the row. He can do this 

 easier than to clean out the beds of chickweed in the fall, and 

 the yield is good. 



