62 



-cost $105 per acre, as it takes 35,000 to plant an acre this 

 way. 



The other plot consisted of 1,300 plants placed in rows 

 three feet apart and two feet in the row, thus making a little 

 less than one-fifth of an acre, or about twice the amount in 

 the other plot. One-half of this bed I let make matted rows 

 and the other half I placed the runners, letting five set to 

 each old plant, and cutting off the rest. The cost of this bed 

 was $22.10, or $125 per acre, just about one-half of the other. 

 Of course the cost of growing the matted row half was less 

 than the set runners, but I did not keep separate accounts. 



As to yields, the yield was nearly the same in propor- 

 tion on the two plots, that is about 500 quarts on the Kivet 

 bed, and 1,000 quarts on the other bed of twice the size. The 

 Tuatted rows gave me the most berries and the set runners 

 gave me a little the best berries. This trial was not quite 

 fair, as I ran out of plants for the Kivet bed of the varieties 

 I planted in the other, and had to use some varieties that I 

 do not consider as good for that method of growing, but aft- 

 er two years' trial I gave up the close planting as not profit- 

 able for me. I now practice the narrow matted row for the 

 field, and the placed runners for the garden. 



Whatever method is used, we must limit the number of 

 plants either by narrow rows or by thinning in the wider 

 beds. We must have quality for profit and to get this we 

 must have plants that have room to develop strong and vig- 

 orous crowns and root systems. 



For planting I prefer a good strong mason's trowel to 

 any other implement I have tried. 



Perhaps I am a crank on plants, but I think that the 

 first great mistake in many strawberry beds is made in the 

 plants used. Plants should be grown especially for that pur- 

 pose, the rows dug clean and only the strongest used. The 

 quicker I can get a plant back into the ground after I get 

 it out the better. I never but once had a really satisfactory 

 yield from shipped plants. 



As to varieties, I used to be very free with advice, but 

 am glad to say I have recovered. It all depends upon you, 

 your soil, location, methods of culture, and object. If for the 

 family table or u private trade, you will look for quality first 

 and make the other characteristics subordinate to it; if for 

 local market, size, appearance, quality and productiveness 



