31 



to two tons of ashes. I have also used with good results,, 

 some of the fertilizers that have a good per cent, of potash.. 

 This I applied on the surface after ploughing, working it 

 into the soil. Have the surface of the soil reduced by har- 

 rowing to the conditions of a fine seed bed. Set your bed' 

 according to the method you intend to use. If matted rows 

 set four to five feet. This plan allows the grower of plants 

 to take up the surplus plants between the rows for his own 

 use or sale and also retain a bed about two feet wide for re- 

 fruiting. If narrow rows, set plants three to three and a 

 half feet, plant 15 to 20 inches apart according to the var- 

 iety. If large salable fruit is the object, the runners must 

 be placed so the plants will have six inches of ground. I 

 mark out the rows by using a garden line for the first row 

 then use a marker that marks out the required distance. 

 Always run the rows north and south when possible. 



Success in transplanting the strawberry depends first 

 on the quality of the plants and second on the manner of 

 doing the work. 



Plants with small crowns and an abundance of fibrous 

 roots are the most desirable. If the plants have large leaves, 

 cut them off so that the roots will not have to support this 

 unnecessary foliage before the plants are well established 

 also shorten the roots if long 1-3 to 1-2. I use a strong garden 

 trowel in setting; make a wide deep hole that will receive 

 the roots without doubling them up ; press the ground 

 against the roots sideways. Use care not to set too deep; 

 have the crown of the plant above the level of the ground. 

 If set too deep the plant will not grow. Cultivation should 

 follow soon after setting by using a scuffle hoe on either 

 side of the row. Do not wait until the weeds start to do 

 this; cultivation means more than the destruction of weeds 

 so I would repeat this every week by using a cultivator so 

 as to establish a loose soil to prevent the evaporation of the 

 soil moisture and keep it for the good of the growing plants. 

 Varieties is a question more difficult to answer ; this is more 

 true of strawberries than any other cultivated fruit. Many 

 varieties are of local adaptation. A new sort must have an 

 examination in each locality before its fitness can be deter- 

 mined. The best of the varieties are short lived and their 

 popularity soon gives way to a more promising new rivaL 

 The varieties to be of commercial importance should com- 

 bine in a large degree fair size, productiveness, firm texture,- 



