QUESTIONS 347 



Sections still most common. The rows are first set about four or 

 five feet apart and the runners are given freedom until they cover 

 a strip two or three feet wide, or perhaps the whole area. Mulch- 

 ing is less common in this practice, and tillage, if given, is much 

 more difficult. A modification of the plan is to leave narrow strips 

 which are cultivated once a year. Most of the weeding has to be 

 done by hand pulling, and if grass gets started it is difficult to 

 control. 



In any of the systems of planting, strawberries are usually 

 not profitable after bearing two good crops. Sometimes they are 

 kept for a third crop before plowing under. New beds should be 

 started each year if the best results are desired. 



FIELD AND LABORATORY EXERCISES 



1. Practice pruning, care and management of various kinds of bush fruits. 



2. Systems of Growing Strawberries. Grow strawberries by the matted- 

 row system and the hedge-row system. Do this at home, if possible. Com- 

 pare the results in yield, size of fruit, cleanliness of fruit, market value, ease 

 of picking, ease of cultivation and other points. 



3. Study market conditions when berries are in the market. Make a list 

 of varieties grown, methods of preparing for market, length of time elapsing 

 from picking to consumption. 



4. Pollen for Pistillate Strawberries. By inquiry or visitation (Fig. 238) 

 determine the plans usually followed by growers of strawberries regarding the 

 mixing of pistillate and perfect varieties. How many rows of each type are 

 set before setting the other? 



5. Local Growth of Small Fruits. Compare the acreages of the various 

 small fruits as grown in your vicinity. Explain, if possible, why the acreage 

 is so small. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Give directions for the growing of raspberries. 



2. What varieties of grapes are grown in your section? 



3. What systems of training grapes have you seen? 



4. Compare the hedge-row system with the matted-row system of growing 



strawberries. 



5. Give the stage of harvesting for each of the small fruits. 



6. Which ones of the small fruits grow wild in your vicinity? 



7. What influence, if any, does this have upon the sale of cultivated varieties 



of the same kind? 



References. United States Farmers' Bulletins: 154, The Home Fruit 

 Garden: Preparation and Care; 156, The Home Vineyard, with Special Refer- 

 ence to Northern Conditions; 176, Cranberry Culture; 178, Insects Injurious 

 to Cranberry Culture; 181, Pruning; 198, Strawberries; 208, Varieties of 

 Fruits Recommended for Planting; 213, Raspberries; 293, The Use of Fruit 

 as Food; 471, Grape Propagation, Pruning and Training; 643, Blackberry 

 Culture; 664, Strawberry Growing in the South; 709, Muscadine Grapes; 

 728, Dewberry Culture. 



U. S. Department Bulletin 349 The Raisin Industry. R. I. Exp. Sta. 

 Bui. 91, Bush Fruits. Mass. Sta. Bd. of Agr., Bui. 4, Small Fruits and Berries. 



