them to 3"ou in this way but I have met cranks wlio insisted 

 on shaking off all the dirt and doing as they always do, say- 

 ing, "take them that way or you don't get them.'' 



When sending to a distance for new varieties, of course 

 we expect to get them bundled and packed in moss and then 

 there is the clipping of roots and tops, the shaking out and 

 separating roots, and continuous watering that makes a lot 

 of work and ex[)ense at a season Avhen time is jji-ecious. 



Cultivating should begin almost as soon as set so that 

 weeds do not get a start and ground will not dry out so 

 quickly. They may be cultivated rarefully two or three 

 times before hoeing, I)ut be sure not to throw dirt on to 

 plants as they smother very easily. 



We use six tine hoes, or potato diggers, as they leave 

 the ground more mellow and to a greater depth, giving just 

 the deej) nuilcli that is needed. Remember that all blossoms 

 or buds must be picked off when setting if they show and 

 when hoeing as well, for the plant needs all its strength to 

 make runners and growth without producing fruit the first 

 season. 



We usually cut runners at first hoeing and after that 

 place them so they will be separated, so that plants will not 

 be too thick and cause small soft fruit. 



Keep beds clear of weeds and ground melloAV to a depth 

 of three or four inches through the season. If paths are 

 grown in too much, cut them out before covering, except 

 perhaps enough for next year's setting and they are better 

 grown in ])lant beds than in fruiting beds. 



Cover when ground is frozen enough to bear a team 

 Avithout tracking. If snow has fallen, it will do no harm to 

 spread it on top. Where snow comes early and stays late 

 they wnll winter without covering, but the danger will be 

 in freezing and thawing after the snow has gone. Also of 

 starting early so as to be caught by a late frost, when in 

 bloom and this should be avoided most carefully. 



Pine needles are very nice for cover, if they can be ob- 

 tained at reasonable cost and in sufficient quantity. ]Meadow 



