Preliminaries 



Strawberries grow wild in nearly all localities, on all kinds* 

 of soil, and without any care at all. In the wild state they are 

 neither large, productive nor profitable. Though the soil be vir- 

 gin and the locality the most favorable, the plant's energies are 

 fully taxed in the struggle with other growing things for its 

 share of the food and moisture in the earth, and it is able to 

 produce only a few small berries. When man enters the strug- 

 gle, exterminates the competitors, furnishes more food and 

 prevents the loss of the moisture, the result is different. When, 

 in addition to this, he selects the best varieties and from these 

 produces still better ones, the difference becomes still more 

 marked. As the grower does his work well or otherwise the 

 results are satisfactory or otherwise. 



Before engaging in an undertaking whose outcome will de- 

 pend so largely upon himself, a person may well take time for 

 a little consideration. If he has land of various characters at 

 his disposal, he should weigh the merits of different pieces in 

 the light of his circumstances and aims. What he may consider 

 the best piece of land on his farm, for strawberries, may have 

 been in grass for several years. Would he better take his chances 

 on having his plants destroyed by the grubs, which are likely 

 to be in such land, or take another piece somewhat less favor- 

 able ? Or perhaps his best strawberry land is wanted for some 

 other valuable crop, like onions or celery, that requires soil of 

 a particular character. It may take careful study to determine 

 which crop shall have it. His land may be better adapted to 

 growing late berries than early ones, and still early ones may 

 be the most profitable in his market. It is well to deter- 



