A B C OF STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 49 



seven inches or more in circumference, and a jield per square 

 rod, or hill, that I would hardly dare mention. 



Again, there are a great many village people who have 

 their gardens, but no horse to cultivate with (where they have 

 a horse, of course they can cultivate berries on the same plan 

 that is given in the first chapters of this book, for farmers). 

 All of these can grow strawberries successfully ; but they 

 should be set out a little differently from where horse culture 

 is to be used, and treated in a different way. For this class of 

 growers, as well as for ministers, doctors, etc., I should advise 

 hill culture. Set the plants, say, in rows 2 feet apart, and 15 

 to 18 inches in rows, and keep the ground properly stirred be- 

 tween them by hand. If the land is rich enough (and I would 

 make it very rich for this method of growing) they will almost 

 cover it, and give very large fine berries. One should get va- 

 rieties suitable for hill culture and the soil where they are to 

 be grown. Near-by reliable growers could advise best on these 

 points. Of course, all runners are to be kept off during the 

 entire season, when strawberries are grown in this way. A 

 good wheel-hoe could be used to advantage, such as the Planet 

 Jr. When kept in hills on nice rich ground, the plants will 

 stool out and form immense hills. I have had them grow in a 

 single season from 18 inches to 2 feet across. These hills can 

 be kept for two or three years, if desired, although they will 

 probably yield the best the first season they bear. I would set 

 out the plants in the spring, the same as recommended to farm- 

 ers, in former chapters, although, with rich soil and constant 

 care, half a crop could be obtained from early fall setting. 



When a person in a village has to hire all the work done 

 by one who is not an expert, and where he does not understand 

 all about it himself, it would probably be better economy, finan- 

 cially, to buy his berries. But if he could interest himself in 

 the study of the strawberry, and its habits and wants, and do 

 all the work himself, or nearly all, then it might be made to 

 pay in cash as well as better health, oftentimes, and real enjoy- 



