28 MASSACHUSETTS IIOHTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Jucunda, proi)erly treated, is doubtles.s one of our very best varieties. 

 Hill culture lias boeii rccoininonded by many, and as is known is 

 practiced entirely and with eminent success b^' Mr. Knox, the introducer 

 of the Jucunda. The system has not met with favor in this section, 

 «)wing, possibly, to the extra value of our land and the cost of manuring, 

 when so much space is unoccupied between the rows. A modified form 

 of hill, or rather stool-culture, has been suggested and practiced by 

 Mr. .1. B. Moore, whose practical good sense and eminent success in 

 Iruit culture entitles his opinions to favorable consideration. Mr. 

 Moore's method is as follows: in early spring to plant in rows four feet 

 apart, or for field culture 4^ feet apart. In the rows the plants are to be 

 from i:{ to l.j inches apart, according to the vigor of the variety. As 

 soon as the plants make runners, allow two runners to take root, one on 

 each side, and one foot from each plant. For the rest of the season 

 keep the ground clean from all runners and weeds, with a hoe around 

 the plants, and with French's sharp tooth horse hoe in the paths. The 

 following diagram indicates the ajjijearaiice of the rows and the relative 

 distances: 



Path 2 feat wide. 



The large stars represent the original plants and the small stars the 

 July runners, one foot ofl", on each side. If the original rows are four 

 feet apart then the path between the runners will be two feet, diminished 

 somewhat by the overhanging of the stools. The strength given to the 

 plants by keeping down an excess of runners will secure a larger and 

 l/etter crop than when the ground is covered with plants. The ease in 

 cultivating with a hoe is manifest, probabl}- not exceeding one half the 

 cost of the hand weeding of beds. It will be seen that this is essentially 

 tlie hill system, with this economy of space, that instead of a foot path 

 for each row there are three rows for every path. For such varieties 

 as Jucunda, Triomphe and Wilson we confidently recommend this 

 method. In the experience of Mr. Moore the "Wilson bears but two 

 good crops, while Jucunda and Triomphe last three or four years. He, 

 in common witij others, deems it essential to a renewal of vigor in the 

 stool tiiat the entire foliage of the bed should be mowed close, with a 

 scythe, immediately after the crop is taken. This may seem to be an 

 unnatural process, but we are to consider that this plant matures its 

 foliage with its fruit, and that a new life and new runners are developed 

 for the succeeding crop. Consequently the removal of the foliage in 



