RENOVATING THE OLD BED 95 



in size of the fruit; but this is practically 

 made up for in the early ripening of the fruit, 

 enabling the grower to ship his berries earlier 

 to market and thereby obtain some of the 

 higher prices. 



If a bed is to be carried over for two or 

 three years, it will be found that the in- 

 creased cost of weeding or cleaning out the 

 old bed is greater than that of setting out 

 and caring for a new one. 



There are at least three methods by which 

 a strawberry bed may be renewed with very 

 satisfactory results. All of these methods 

 rquire, however, a bed filled with numerous 

 thrifty and vigorous plants. 



The first method, used after the plants 

 have fruited, consists of ploughing one fur- 

 row from each side of the matted row, leav- 

 ing a strip in the middle not more than a foot 

 wide, which has a fair number of good plants 

 growing in it. Following this, well decom- 

 posed manure is spread liberally on the hill, 

 or back furrow, which the ploughing has made 

 between the plant rows. At least 15 tons to 

 the acre should be applied, and more if it 

 is available. The shovel-tooth cultivator, 

 either five or seven teeth, should then be 



