98 MATTED ROW SYSTEM. 



The Matted Row System consists in planting in rows three; and 

 one-half or four feet apart, and two feet in the rows. Cultiva- 

 tion with the horse is done but one way and the plants are allow- 

 ed to run in beds covering the ground all but about a foot space 

 between the rows. By this method wonderful crops are some- 

 times reported, and the labor the earlier part of the season is 

 comparatively light ; but when the plants cover nearly the entire 

 ground it is slow work getting out the weeds from among the 

 plants without injury. 



This system is modified by allowing the runners to take root at 

 intervals of six to ten inches over the bed, more or less regulaily, 

 and then destroying all other runners. By this means nearly the 

 same result is obtained as by the modified hill system. 



The advantage of the horse cultivator or hoe over the hand- 

 hoe for destroying the weeds in the early part of the season, has 

 led to the method of planting four by four feet. This requires 

 less than three thousand plants to the acre. The cultivator is 

 run both ways until the runners interfere. Then the rows or beds 

 are filled up one way by transplanting the plants into the vacant 

 space, setting them from six to ten inches apart, thus making a 

 modified matted row. This is one of the best methods that can 

 be practiced. 



For the home garden, the plants may be grown by any of the 

 above systems, but if co be grown in hills, and the work of cul- 

 tivation is to be done by the hand-hoe, they may be planted more 

 closely. The only conditions that are necessary in the garden 

 culture is to give the plants the proper amount of room, and have 

 them arrauged so that the fruit may be gathered conveniently. 

 Of course an abundance of proper plant food must be supplied. 



Under whatever system the Strawberry may be grown, the 

 plants must have an abundance of room and food to produce 

 strong and well matured crowns, which are essential to the pro- 

 duction of large and abundant fruit. The land must be kept free 

 from weeds during the entire season, but as little stirring of the 

 soil should be done after September first as possible. 



Winter Protection, — When the ground is not covered with 

 snow during the winter, tlie plants must be protected from the 

 alternations of freezing and thawing. This is done by covering 

 lightly with a litter that is free from weed seeds. The covering 

 should not be put on until the ground freezes, unless there is 

 danger of the plants being covered up with snow, in which case 

 it should either be put on or held in readiness so that it may be 

 put on at short notice when the ground may be uncovered during 

 the winter. The lighter or thinner the covering the better, pro- 

 vided it afford shade to the plants. Among the materials most 

 used for this purpose are meadow hay or sedge grass, salt marsh 

 hay, forest leaves, pine needles, fine brush, pine boughs, etc. 



In the spring this covering must be drawn from over the 

 crowns of the plants and be trodden in between the rows, thus 



