188 THE STRAWBERRY 



put on too early the plants often start into growth too soon. 

 Considering all materials, the clean straw is perhaps the best 

 for mulching. 



FIG. 86. A well-mulched strawborn 



FIG. 87. A well-graded crate of strawberries packed in square pint boxes. 

 (After Thompson, United States Department of Agriculture.) ^ 



Harvesting. The time of picking the strawberry depends 

 upon the distance they are to be shipped. When they are 

 grown for home consumption or for the local market they 



