STRAWBERRIES 343 



There are a number of good ways of supporting the bearing 

 vines (Figs. 232 and 233), and the practices regarding pruning 

 are quite variable. If the crops are wanted for shade about the 

 home grounds the pruning may be very light, but if the crop is 

 grown in a vineyard for commercial purposes the pruning is much 

 closer to keep the vines in control -and allow the use of smaller 

 supports. The fruit is borne from buds of the new growth, but 

 must start each spring from buds of the preceding season. If a 

 few inch buds are left to start the new growth there will be plenty 

 of bearing wood produced for the new crop of fruit. The pruning 

 should be done in winter when the ground is frozen, if possible. 

 There will then be much less danger of loss of sap by lt bleeding." 



Grapes will do well on very light soil, but they will also thrive 

 on any well drained rich loam. If good drainage is provided and 

 plenty of organic matter is in the soil little fertilizing will be neces- 

 sary. Annual tillage should be practiced. 



Grapes for Shows. Students and growers of grapes should 

 have practice in selecting good specimens for exhibition or for 

 market windows. The following scale of points will aid in such 

 practice. 



Grape Score Card 



Flavor 15 points 



Form of bunch 20 



Size of bunch 15 



Size of berry 10 



Color 10 



Firmness 5 



Bloom 5 



Freedom from blemish 20 



Total 100 points 



Strawberries are chiefly propagated by the rooting of runners, 

 as described in an earlier chapter. They thrive well on any good 

 garden soil, adapting themselves to a wide variation in soil. Set- 

 ting the plants in August immediately from propagating beds is a 

 very common practice. This can be done readily without the loss 

 of many plants if the soil is moist and the weather is not too dry 

 and hot. The plants may also be set in early spring, but in that 

 case they should not be allowed to bear fruit the same season. 

 One year's time is really saved by setting the plants in August. 



In selecting plants for strawberry beds, it should be remembered 

 that some varieties are called pistillate because they do not have 

 enough stamens to pollinate themselves (Fig. 234). Many other 



