276 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



two more set them out, and it will be best to have help enough 

 to do the work in a day if you can. I would recommend that 

 the plants be puddled with a mixture of cow dung and clay, as 

 is described in the chapter on sweet potatoes. I would advise, 

 in growing strawberries on a large scale on this plan of hill cul- 

 ture, that, every four rods, a space of eight feet be left for a 

 wagon-drive, for convenience in drawing in manure and mulch 

 and in taking out the fruit. These strips should be kept culti- 

 vated, and after the berry season is over can be planted in some 

 late crop. 



As soon as the bed is done bearing, give a thorough work- 

 ing both ways and see that all runners are kept off. Some 

 growers recommend that the plants be closely trimmed of all old 

 leaves and fruit stalks, with a sharp sickle, and I am inclined 

 to favor the plan. Bone meal and ashes are valuable and con- 

 centrated fertilizers for the strawberry. The former I would 

 apply at the first working after the bearing season, and the lat- 

 ter in early spring. 



I will condense a few points which, if attended to, will in- 

 sure success in strawberry growing : 1st. A clean soil thoroughly 

 prepared ; 2d. A liberal application of well rotted manure ; 3d. 

 Strong plants, true to name, set out fresh, with roots always 

 kept moist; 4th. The earth well firmed around the young 

 plants ; 5th. Thorough and constant cultivation ; 6th. All blos- 

 som stalks and runners removed the first spring, as soon as 

 they appear, and all fruit stalks and dead leaves trimmed off as 

 soon as the bearing season is over; 7th. Good winter protection. 



Raspberries. It is doubtful if any other fruit can be pro- 

 duced with so little labor and with so great certainty of an 

 annual crop as the raspberry, if it is intelligently managed. A 

 single planting will last a generation. I have known raspberries 

 to remain in vigorous bearing on the same spot for more than 

 thirty years, and when removed, they seemed to have lost no 

 vigor. As the raspberry renews its canes each year, all that is 

 necessary to keep a plantation healthy, is to give good cultiva- 

 tion, plenty of plant food, and attend to pruning and the removal 

 of the old canes each year, and there seems to be no limit to the 



