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hay, if cut after seed lias fallen will do if coarse, but if fine 

 will likely smother the plants. I find for large beds good 

 clean wheat straw to be all right and when bought by car 

 load from some well kept, clean farm is not too costly. Or- 

 dinary baled oat straw, cheap hay horse manure is so full of 

 foul seed that it often destroys a bed rather than saving it. 

 Just enough light, loose, clean material to put the plants 

 mostly out of sight is what is needed. Do not bury and 

 smother them. If you must put it on heavy anywhere, put 

 it in the j)ath whei-c it will keep thi> weeds down and the 

 soil moist. 



When should covering be taken ofi^? Do not take it off, 

 for when it ceases to be needed as cover it is wanted for 

 mulch. When it is time in the Spi'ing for plants to start, 

 stir uj) the covering so they can push their way through 

 and with a little attention to see that the wind does not mix 

 things up. they Avill be all right till picking time when you 

 will find your berries larger, cleaner, and your season long- 

 er than by the method of removing and cultivating as often 

 done. Tf weeds come through the mulch they can he pulled 

 or lightly hoed. 



Now we conu^ to ])i(kiiig time, when we are to ol)tain 

 our reward according to the care and knowledge and labor 

 that we have expended. First, raise your pickers, is a good 

 rule foi- the successful strawberry grower. The crop that 

 can be handled by the home gaug shows the best net return. 

 With a large crop we must use such help as we can get. 

 usually men, sometimes Avomen, and children, if we must. 

 We pay by the hour as a large number cannot be depended 

 upon to do good work hy the piece and will not be satisfied 

 when berries are scarce. We begin work at daylight and 

 stop when too dark to see the lierries, from 4 o'clock A. IM. 

 to 8 o'clock P. ]\r. Take a long rest at noon if very hot. 



If help is plenty all the picking should be done in the 

 morning and no berries be kept over night. If picked in 

 the heat of mid(la>'. they should be near market and be used 

 the same da3'. 



