182 AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



wide is established. The plants in the mat should not be 

 closer than five or six inches. 



For the hill system of cultivation the plants should be 

 set twelve to fifteen inches apart each way in beds of two 

 to four rows, with eighteen or twenty-four inch paths be- 

 tween the beds. To achieve success with hill culture it is 

 necessary that all runners be cut off as soon as they appear 

 in the fall after planting. For this reason the plants should 

 be set out as soon as possible, preferably in July, and surely 

 not later than mid-August. In rich soil with plenty of 

 moisture and good cultivation the plant will have a solid 

 bushy crown nearly a foot across ready to produce a splendid 

 crop of fruit the following June. 



Fall Fruiting Strawberries 



In setting out new plants do not fail to include a few of 

 the fall-fruiting or ever-bearing varieties, which have 

 now been developed to a point where the fruit is of really 

 fine quality and of good size. Progressive and Superb are 

 the two best varieties of this type yet introduced. They are 

 quite distinct and it would be well to plant a few of each. 

 Plants set out now will fruit next June, but for a big fall 

 supply the blossoms should be picked off the first part of 

 the summer. 



The mulch should not be applied until after the ground 

 freezes, but it is well to make provision for it early in the 

 fall. Clean marsh hay may be obtained in many localities, 

 and there is nothing better. It is free from weed seeds and 

 does not blow about so much as straw, nor pack down like 

 leaves or strawy manure. In northern sections three to 

 five inches of mulch is advisable. Even where it is not 

 necessary for winter and spring protection of the plants, 

 the mulch is of use the following season in keeping the ber- 

 ries clean and conserving the soil moisture. 



