154 A B C OF STRAWBERRY CULTURE 



me, represents the Cumberland very much better than the one 

 marked "Cumberland." 



The L,ida is another new berry that has been attracting con- 

 siderable attention. The plant is not very large, and the leaves 

 are down close to the ground. But it is a wonderfully vigorous 

 grower, and the fruit is very handsome. 



We have tested the Ontario, but they are so much like the 

 Sharpless that it seems to me it is hardly worth while to have 

 both of them under different .names. Those of which I have 

 made no mention, I am not sufficiently acquainted with to de- 

 scribe. Those having a star after the name are imperfect, or 

 " pistillate ; " the rest are perfect", or " staminate." 



There, just as I got my strawberry book all ended, a point 

 not touched on occurred to me ; and I should not be surprised if 

 it should prove to be one of the most valuable thoughts to be 

 found in the book. It follows along in the line of the query, 



SHAIj; WE I,ET OUR VINES BEAR MORE THAN ONE YEAR? 



This matter has already been discussed on page 98, and 

 Terry strongly advises plowing them under after they have 

 borne one crop ; but this, mind you, refers to strawberry-plants 

 set out in the spring. 



Now, where plants are set out in July, August, September, 

 and even October, as we frequently do with the transplanting- 

 tubes, it seems a pretty hard matter to turn them under after 

 they have borne only one crop ; and, in fact, I would not ad- 

 vise doing it where the plants are set later than August. Then 

 comes the question, How shall we keep old beds clean, and 

 free from weeds, without costing more than the berries will 

 come to? If we keep off all plants and runners, and grow 

 them in hills, they can be cultivated and hoed as well as other 

 crops ( but removing the runners as fast as they start, is also 

 quite a task). If, however, we wish to have a thin matted row, 

 as friend Terry recommends, I tell you we have got business 

 ahead of us. If mulching has been used this must be removed, 



