HORTICULTURE 261 



among the qualities to be desired than when they are grown for 

 market purposes, but even more attention should be given to the 

 flavor. While the hardiness and productiveness of the plants will 

 always be the most important! consideration, this characteristic 

 even may be slightly sacrificed to produce varieties of high quality ; 

 regularity of form and a pleasing color will be desirable whether 

 the varieties are for home use or market, and while the size should 

 at least be medium, for home use, varieties that grow a large or very 

 large sized berry will bring the most money for market varieties. 

 As a rule the very large sorts are less regular in form and of inferior 

 quality to the varieties that are medium sized. By the proper 

 selection of soil and location a considerable range of season can be 

 secured, as early kinds upon a light soil and southern exposure 

 will be hastened in ripening, while late sorts upon a heavy soil with 

 a northern slope will be somewhat retarded and a season covering 

 four or five weeks can sometimes be secured in this way. (Mich. 

 E. S. B. 163.) 



Cultivation. The ground should be thoroughly cultivated 

 during the entire growing season to keep it loose and friable. This 

 condition of the soil is beneficial in several ways It allows the air 

 to penetrate the soil which is necessary as roots need air; it retains 

 moisture in the soil by preventing rapid evaporation from the sur- 

 face; it assists in breaking down plant food which would otherwise 

 remain insoluble and it keeps the ground free from weeds which 

 rob the plants of moisture. 



It is not a usual practice to cultivate the fruiting beds in 

 spring, but this ought to be done to loosen up the soil so it will hold 

 more moisture and evaporate less, and thus in case of drought the 

 crop will not suffer so quickly if at all. (Md. E. S. B. 124.) 



Mulching. Covering the surface of the soil with dead or de- 

 caying vegetable matter is the meaning of the term mulching as 

 here used. Mulching in strawberry culture serves different pur- 

 poses, depending upon the locality in which the plants are grown. 

 A mulch acts as a protection from cold, prevents freezing and thaw- 

 ing and the consequent lifting of the plants ("heaving out") ; it 

 retards growth in cold regions by shading the crowns and main- 

 taining a low soil temperature longer than in soil not mulched; it 

 acts as a conserver of moisture, discourages weed growth by smother- 

 ing the young seedling, and finally protects the fruit from contact 

 with the soil. 



Materials for Mulch. The materials which can be used in 

 mulching are various, but their value depends largely upon their 

 freedom from weed seeds and their fitness to protect the plants with- 

 out smothering them. Whole or cut straw free from grains, strawy 

 manure from the horse stable, and pine straw from the forest are 

 among the more common mulching materials. In certain sections 

 marsh hay, either from fresh or salt water marshes, is a common 

 and very satisfactory mulching material. 



When to Apply the Mulch. At the North where the soil is 

 likely to freeze and thaw several times in the course of the winter, 



