18 THE 8TKAWBEEBY CTJLTURIST. 



berry plantations that axe kept well mulched, and freed from weeds 

 and runners, will last for many years, depending, of course, somewhat, 

 upon the variety planted and the nature of the soil. 



On very dry or sandy soil it is well to mulch the ground very soon 

 after the plants are set out, or so soon as they take root in the soil, as 

 there is but little danger of being troubled with weeds the first season, 

 and the mulch keeps the earth moist, a thing which it is very difficult 

 to accomplish in any other way. 



GARDEX CULTURE. 



The same direction given for field culture of the strawberry is appli- 

 cable to the small garden, with the exception of the arrangement of 

 the beds ; these should be four feet wide, planting three rows in each, 

 placing the plants eighteen inches apart each way ; this will leave six 

 inches margin between the outside row and the walk, which should 

 be two feet ; this gives three feet between the plants of parallel beds. 

 This is none too much space between beds for standing room to gather 

 the fruit ; and if different varieties are grown in beds side by side, a 

 less space than three feet would increase the danger of the plants run- 

 ning from one bed to the other. Although no runners should be 

 allowed to grow, all of us will sometimes become careless and neglect 

 to keep them off ; and mixing the plants should be guarded against, 

 if anything like good culture is attempted. 



When pistillate varieties are grown, they should be plar ted in alter- 

 nate beds with other sorts, but never plant both kinds together hi the 

 same bed. Mulching the beds must be attended to the same as in 

 field culture ; and when it is convenient, it is well to remove the mulch 

 after the plants are done fruiting, and fork up or hoe deeply the 

 ground between the plants, and then mulch again. 



All the different operations by which the fruit may be enlarged or 

 the quantity increased, such as watering with pure water, or with 

 liquid manure, guano, sal soda, etc., will suggest themselves to the 

 observing cultivator. 



When a strawberry bed begins to fail, it is best to plant new beds on 

 new soils ; and when the )ld beds are destroyed, the ground on which 

 they were should be planted with some other crop, and not again 

 planted with strawberries for two or three years. 



