THE STRAWBERRY AND OTHER BERRIES. 203 



or straw, strewing it directly from the wagon, which can be 

 run down between the rows. Spread the mulch thick enough 

 to be at least two or three inches deep after settling. Do this 

 in July or August, so as to catch the summer rains and have 

 moist ground for planting in September and October. I ha^e 

 the present season made careful notes, in many fields, of re- 

 sults from different dates of planting, and find without excep- 

 tion, that plants set in those two months not only grow by 

 February quite as large as the two-year-old ones, but produce 

 just as many and larger berries. The difference in size of 

 fruit from the two ages alongside was in every instance very 

 remarkable in favor of the fall-set plants. The great trouble 

 is that frequently in the fall the weather is so hot and dry 

 that it is very difficult to make plants live when set. This 

 comes entirely from a too high temperature of the soil, which 

 is entirely obviated by mulching as directed. Thousands of 

 plants are annually sacrificed in August and September, from 

 ignorance that unless set with a ball of earth at that time, the 

 earth if clean, is too hot for the plants to take root. But if 

 mulched in July or August, and a good rain falls to wet the 

 earth well, it will remain cool and moist the whole fall. 



When ready to set, cut all roots back to about one inch, 

 open a small hole in the mulch and insert the roots, fan- 

 shape, straight down at least fifteen inches apart. Never 

 spread out the roots of any tree or plant, as this induces a super- 

 ficial system. After setting, pull the straw or hay lightly over 

 the plant, as a shade, and go on to the next. Treated thus, 

 and allowed to grow right up through the mulch, a stand can 

 always be secured with good, strong plants, a month or more 

 in advance of those who undertake to plant on clean, unpro- 

 tected ground. Another great advantage of this method is, 

 that if the mulch has been put on evenly and of moderate 

 thickness, no further work will be required until the crop is 

 gone except, perhaps, the pulling up of a few stray weeds 

 that force themselves up through the mulch in spring. But, 

 even if this fall mulching be not practiced, no one should 

 ever neglect this vitally important operation at some time 

 before the fruit ripens. Sandy, dirty berries are now the 



