92 MODERN STRAWBERRY GROWING 



nor to injure the plants by careless walking 

 or forking. 



WHEN ARE MATERIALS APPLIED? 



Where freezing of the soil is light and 

 thawing often follows, it is advisable to apply 

 the mulch just as soon as the active growth 

 of the plant ceases, either in the last of 

 October or the month of November. Pro- 

 tection in this case would not only be against 

 the many freezes and thaws but against the 

 high dry winds of winter, which often do 

 great damage to plants by drying them out or 

 by exposing the roots to later sun action by 

 removing or blowing away the soil. 



In the colder parts of the country, where the 

 freezing is more permanent, it is best to wait 

 until the ground is frozen hard enough to 

 allow the wagon or cart to be driven upon it 

 without breaking into the soil. At the ex- 

 treme North,where snow comes early and stays 

 until late spring, it would be hardly advisable 

 to mulch very heavily as the plants would 

 smother with the combined mulch and snow. 



WHEN IS THE MULCH REMOVED? 



Where heavy mulching has been practised 

 it is best to remove the coarse, bulky part 



