1/2 THE HOME ACRE. 



Let us fix our attention on a single plant. It 

 has a certain amount of root pasturage and space 

 in which to grow. Since it is not permitted to 

 produce an indefinite number of young plants, it 

 begins to develop itself. The soil is rich, the 

 roots are busy, and there must be an outlet. 

 The original plant cannot form others, and there- 

 fore begins to produce fruit-crowns for the com- 

 ing year. All the sap, all the increasing power 

 of root and foliage, are directed to preparation for 

 fruit In brief, we have got the plant in traces ; it 

 is pulling in the direction we wish : it will event- 

 ually deliver a load of berries which would surprise 

 those who trust simply to Nature unguided. 



Some one may object that this is a troublesome 

 and expensive way of growing strawberries. Do 

 not the facts in the case prove the reverse? A 

 plant restricted to a single root can be hoed and 

 worked around like a hill of corn or a currant-bush. 

 With comparatively little trouble the ground be- 

 tween the rows can be kept clean and mellow. 

 Under the common system, which allows the run- 

 ners to interlace and mat the ground, you soon 

 have an almost endless amount of hand-weeding 

 to do, and even this fails if white clover, sorrel, and 

 certain grasses once get a start. The system I 

 advocate forbids neglect ; the runners must be 

 clipped off as fast as they appear, and they con- 



