174 MODERN STRAWBERRY GROWING 



are gently stirred into the soil with a garden 

 rake. A wide board is laid over the place 

 where the seeds are sown, and left on until 

 spring. Some of the seedlings will show 

 in the fall, but most of them will not come 

 up until spring. The board is put on to 

 keep the weeds from growing and the seeds 

 moist so they will sprout. Of course the 

 board is removed in the spring. The young 

 seedlings will come up very thickly and 

 will have to be separated and given more 

 room. It may be necessary to transplant 

 them several times. Finally, they are set 

 out the usual distance in the field and allowed 

 to grow and fruit. Some of them will show 

 fruit the first year, but most of [them will 

 have to be carried over until the following 

 season. 



After the seedlings are produced, they 

 need to be fruited and selected for ad- 

 vancement. This judging of improvement 

 in new varieties requires great skill, and 

 that is the result of experience. 



SOIL 



The best soil in the garden should be 

 selected for the fall berries. There should 



