92 THE GAEDENETTE 



After fruit is all ripened, the bed can be made 

 productive for second year, in the following man- 

 ner: 



With a sharp hoe cut off, close to the ground, 

 all the plants on a strip eighteen inches wide, leav- 

 ing alternate strips of plants of same width. 

 These strips thus destroyed should be where the 

 old plants stood, leaving young plants for next 

 crop. Then with narrow hoe, thin the strips re- 

 maining, leaving a vigorous plant not nearer its 

 neighbor than six inches. Then with a spading- 

 fork loosen the soil between rows, and around 

 plants. Water well, and a vigorous growth of 

 young, healthy plants will soon cover the entire 

 bed. If they become matted, it will pay to pull 

 out the weaker plants, otherwise the berries will 

 be smaller, and of poorer flavor. 



Nitrate of soda may be used second season, ap- 

 plied in same manner as directed for first crop. 



After two crops, the bed should be changed to 

 new location, planting a new patch the second 

 spring. 



Or a new plantation may be made every spring, 

 destroying the plants after first crop is gathered. 



Treated in this manner, 100 plants should pro- 

 duce from two to three bushels or more of highest 

 grade of delicious fruit. Between time of blos- 

 soming and ripening of fruit, they should be 

 watered at least every other evening, rather copi- 

 ously, reducing the quantity of water as ripening 

 approaches. 



On alkaline soils, or on adobe, it is better to 

 use the regular Sandwich Bed, for on these beds, 



