STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETr. ^3 



lines, for I should always set by a line (I abhor crooked rows) and 

 in setting the half acre you want as many as four lines set at once, 

 so that four men can work at the same time. You will find the job 

 will last as long as you wish it to with that number of men to help 

 set, and one to dig and wheel them along. Now take your trowel 

 in hand, get down on your knees, and begin to set the plants, and 

 you will find yourself in a position to get a practical knowledge of 

 the business. I have been there and know something about 

 it. By the time you have set three rows ten rods long, if you 

 don't feel some as an old fellow over in the town of Sweden 

 did, who tried to live a Christian life, your experience will be 

 different from mine. They had a revival in town several years ago, 

 and this old fellow got wonderfully revived. He was naturally a 

 rough sort of a man, and his language was not of the most refined 

 nature. One of his most common expressions was "by thunder," 

 and in his own neighborliood he usually went by that name. He 

 was very active at first and regular to attend and take part in all 

 their meetings. But after a while his Christian duties began to 

 look irksome, as is too frequently the case, and his old habits began 

 to get the better of him. At one of their meetings in which he 

 participated as usual, after relating his troubles and trials, he said, 

 "Brethren, I tell you when you come to live a right down good, 

 honest Christian life, by thunder, 'tis a grunter," and down he sat. 

 By the time you have set three rows ten rods long, look ahead and 

 see that you have four more to set, and the cramp gets you in both 

 legs, you will think it is a grunter. But if you stick to it till you 

 get them all set, I have no doubt but that you will succeed in the 

 business. After you have set your main bed, be sure and set a 

 small piece for plants to set the other half of your acre the next 

 season. I always set a piece every year for plants, and then I get 

 good one-year-old plants without breaking into my main bed. and 

 usually have some to sell my neighbors. After the plants have 

 been set about one week I give them their first hoeing with the 

 garden rake, and have my men go over the piece with shears and 

 cut out every fruit stem, not allowing one of them to bear tlie first 

 season. Also cut off all the first runners that start, so that it will 

 make the plants vigorous and stocky. After that I let them have 

 their own way and run to their heart's content. 



After the first hoeing with the garden rake, I keep up the cultiva- 

 tion with my horse and cultivator, and hoe them with small hoes 



