RENOVATING THE OLD BED 99 



broadcasted and cultivated in, followed by 

 such light applications of fertilizer as, in the 

 estimation of the grower, may be needed. 



There is one practice that should be car- 

 ried out, especially on mulched beds that 

 are about to be renewed, and that is the use 

 of the mowing machine just after fruiting. 

 Run the machine with the bar set high so that 

 it will cut the old leaves but not injure the 

 crowns. Allow the leaves to dry for a day 

 or two, then start a fire at the windward 

 side and burn the bed. If the fire burns 

 down the length of the row, it will be better 

 than if it burned across the rows. 



Be careful that there are no large masses 

 of mulch on the bed, especially over the 

 plants. Sometimes it is advisable to rake 

 the rows and burn the raked material in the 

 cultivated strips. 



The advantages of burning are: 



1. That the bed is left clean. 



2. That insects or diseases are killed or 

 controlled. 



3. That the bed, being clean, is easier to 

 work. 



After one or the other of these methods is 

 used, the bed is treated just the same as if it 



