170 THE STRAWBERRY 



plants. The old plants in the center of the rows should now 

 either be plowed out or spaded under, leaving the young 

 plants to make the new bed for the next year. This method of 

 renewal can be employed once and sometimes twice on the 

 same piece of ground. However, better results will be had if 

 the young plants are taken from the old patch and set out in 

 another location for the new bed. The old bed can then be 

 plowed up and planted to some other crop. 



Soil. — The strawberry has a wide adaptation to soils. It 

 will grow well on most any type. A sandy loam with a porous 

 subsoil which insures good drainage is perhaps the best 

 type to select when it is available. 



The soil for the strawberry should be well supplied with 

 organic matter which is in a well decomposed state. New 

 lands which have been recently cleared of timber produces 

 large and profitable crops of strawberries. Such lands abound 

 in leaf mould and are rich in organic matter and in humus. 



The varieties differ considerably in their soil requirement. 

 Some are w r ell adapted to soils in certain localities, w r hile 

 other varieties in the same section are failures and decidedly 

 unprofitable. Certain other varieties are very cosmopolitan 

 with regard to the soil and enjoy a wide popularity. These 

 varieties have given good satisfaction in many localities, 

 therefore they should usually be selected by the amateur. 



A thorough preparation of the soil before planting saves 

 much future disappointment. The grower should not be 

 satisfied with the cultivation which is given to ordinary farm 

 crops because additional preparation is always profitable. 

 The soil should be pulverized and reduced to a fine state of 

 division if the strawberry is to succeed. In preparing the 

 land plow moderately deep, say about 8 inches. If the land 

 is in grass fall plowing is desirable. A cultivated crop such as 

 corn should be planted the first year to insure good culti- 

 vation of the soil. This procedure will help eradicate the 

 white grub which is often present in sod land and which is 

 very destructive to the strawberry plant. 



The soil should be retentive of moisture but not wet. 

 Where excess water is present drainage is necessary. The 

 berries draw heavily upon the soil water in the maturing of 



