STRAWBERRIES. l8l 



twice a week in the evening, and then left to the 

 hardening and maturing influence of the sun and 

 wind, the finest results would be secured. I am 

 satisfied that in most localities the size of the ber- 

 ries and the number of quarts produced might be 

 doubled by judicious irrigation. 



The system given above applies not only to 

 sandy loam, but also to all varieties of clay, even 

 the most stubborn. In the latter instance it would 

 be well to employ stable-manure in the initial en- 

 riching, for this would tend to lighten and warm 

 the soil. Care must also be exercised in not work- 

 ing clay when it is too wet or too dry. Mulch also 

 plays an important part on heavy clay, for it pre- 

 vents the soil from baking and cracking. One of 

 the best methods of preventing this is to top-dress 

 the ground with stable-manure, and hoe it in from 

 time to time when fighting the weeds. This keeps 

 the surface open and mellow, a vital necessity for 

 vigorous growth. Few plants will thrive when the 

 surface is hard and baked. Nevertheless, if I had 

 to choose between heavy clay and light sand for 

 strawberries, I should much prefer the clay. On 

 the last-named soil an abundant winter protection 

 is absolutely necessary, or else the plants will 

 freeze entirely out of the ground. 



The native strain of cultivated strawberries has 

 so much vigor and power of adaptation that plenty 



