The Strawberry Book. 29 



CHAPTER IV. 



WINTER PROTECTION. 



No argument is needed to show the necessity of winter 

 protection for strawberry beds in a climate where the soil 

 is not covered with snow throughout the winter. If, in a 

 cold climate, we could be sure of snow the first of Decem- 

 ber, and sure that an unbroken coating of it would remain 

 on the ground till the middle of March, it is probable we 

 should never need to cover our strawberry vines. It is 

 likely that there are but very few kinds that can be injured 

 by the mere cold of the winter ; but what kills the hardi- 

 est varieties is the constant freezing and thawing to which 

 they are too often subjected in this climate if left uncovered. 

 The foreign varieties, especially, since they make high, 

 prominent crowns, are apt to suffer very much if unpro- 

 tected, and thus get the reputation of being tender. 



Almost any cheap non-conducting substance suitable for 

 mulching will answer to cover strawberry vines. Old hay, 

 strawy manure, salt marsh or meadow hay, straw, leaves, 

 spent tan, chopped straw, pine needles, pine boughs, corn- 

 stalks, &c., are among the numerous articles used, as con- 

 venience dictates, for covering strawberry beds. Market 

 gardeners often use coarse hay, which they spread on the 

 vines in the fall, rake off so much as is not needed in the 

 spring, and stack up ready for the next autumn's work. 

 Hay is very convenient, the only objection to it being the 

 fact that it brings in grass and weed seed. This, however, 

 does not matter much if the strawberries are grown on the 

 annual system. Perhaps leaves make the best covering 



