78 A B C OF STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 



plan. With varieties adapted to it, it is, of course, a good way. 

 But each reader must study out for himself his best way. This 

 talk is intended to set you to thinking and hunting for it. 



I have no hobby on this point. I should like this last way of 

 growing berries if it would surely bring best results, and were 

 practical for me. But there are objections to hill culture in 

 some localities, which I have not mentioned. Single plants 

 will sometimes die out during the winter (because they have 

 been unnaturally treated?) even if well mulched. If one hap- 

 pens to have any white grubs in his soil, when they destroy a 

 hill wheie they are set in squares there will be quite a loss. In 

 a thin matted row there is less risk. 



I have now explained about the different ways of growing 

 strawberries, and told you just how I did last year (and am do- 

 ing this year) and why I did so. The best of results are ex- 

 pected, and the show for berries at this writing is all that man 

 could ask for. Much study has been expended on this point ; 

 but I shall undoubtedly know more about it a few years in the 

 future. 



CHAPTER XII. 



THE MULCHING QUESTION CUT STRAW AS A MULCH THE 

 EARTH MULCH MULCHING TO PROLONG THE SEASON COV- 

 ERING WITH STRAW TO PROTECT FROM FROST MULCHING 

 VS IRRIGATION. 



The first two years that we grew strawberries we mulched 

 them with long wheat straw, as told in a former chapter. It 

 worked well ; but we tried another plan last fall which we have 

 reason to think will be an improvement. We cut the straw 

 into about two-inch lengths, and then covered the entire sur- 

 face over plants and paths with it. The cost of cutting was not 

 much, as we have the straw all in the barn, and it was cut when 



