CUL TIVA TION. 209 



from the strain of trying to produce fruit the first year. 

 The whole strength of the roots should go toward producing 

 bearing canes for the season following; and to stimulate 

 such growth, I throw directly on the hill one or two shovel- 

 fuls of finely rotted compost and then mound the earth over 

 the hill until the cane is wholly covered (as in Fig. D). 

 This prevents all injury from the winter's cold. When 

 severe frosts are over, the mound is levelled down again. 

 Under this system, I rarely lose plants, and usually find that 

 double growth is made compared with those set late in 

 spring. I have always succeeded well, however, in early 

 spring planting ; and well to the north, this is, perhaps, the 

 safer season. With the exception of mounding the earth 

 over the hill, plant in March or April as I have already 

 directed. 



CULTIVATION. 



In cultivation, keep the ground level ; do not let it be- 

 come banked up against the hills, as is often the case, espe- 

 cially with those tender varieties that are covered with earth 

 every winter. Keep the surface clean and mellow by the 

 use of the cultivator and hoe. With the exception of from 

 four to six canes in the hill, treat all suckers as weeds, cutting 

 them down while they are little, before they have sucked 

 half the fife out of the bearing hill. Put a shovelful or two 

 of good compost — any fertilizer is better than none — 

 around the hills or along the rows, late in the fall, and work 

 it lightly in with a fork if there is time. The autumn and 

 winter rains will carry it down to the roots, giving almost 

 double vigor and fruitfulness the following season. If the 

 top-dressing is neglected in the autumn, be sure to give it as 

 early in the spring as possible, and work it down toward the 

 roots. Bone-dust, ashes, poudrette, barn-yard manure, and 



14 



