39 



quire a closer planting. Plants should not be crowded. It 

 is poor economy to overcrowd, such a condition favoring a 

 product inferior in yield, in size and in general attractive- 

 ness while providing favorable conditions for the rapid 

 multiplication and spread of insect and fungus pests. There 

 are no sod-mulchers among Small-Fruit growers as there are 

 among some of the tree-fruit growers. Cultivation is a 

 universal requisite of all the clasess of fruits under discus- 

 sion. Early, frequent and thorough stirring of the soil by 

 plow, disc or cultivator is the rule, the observance of which 

 is modified by character of soil, frequency of rainfall and 

 development of plant. 



In the first and sometimes the second year of some of 

 the Small-Fruits, inter-cropping is permissible, using such 

 lioed crops as beans, cabbage, potatoes and the like, such 

 products aiding materially in furnishing an income while 

 the berry plants are developing, after Avhieh time the entire 

 ground should be given to the berries. Cover-crops may 

 seem to some out of place among Small-Fruits yet in the 

 established plantation, the strawberry excepted, they may 

 be used to advantage as has already been suggested in the 

 discussion of hardiness. When properly grown they add 

 somewhat to the sum total of humus, and increase to some 

 , extent the supply of plant-food especially when the legumes 

 are used, the clover and the vetch taking the lead among 

 such plants, followed in lesser value by oats, barley, cow- 

 born turnip, rape, rj'^e and buckwheat. Combinations of 

 seed may be used. We have found very satisfactory about 

 15 pounds of clover seed per acre or twenty-five pounds 

 "vetch, or 1 bushel oats or barley. 



IRRIGATION. — There are certain enthusiasts who feel 

 that Small-Fruit growers generally should equip themselves 

 with some system of irrigation whereby an artificial supply 

 of water may be available whenever needed. Under New 

 York conditions, however, with the uncertainties attendant 

 to frequency of natural precipation, and with the possibili- 

 ties of more thorough cultural operations including a larger 



