38 THE STBAWBEEKY CULTUKIST. 



Where pistillate varieties are raised for the main crop 

 then every fourth or fifth row should be planted with 

 some hermaphrodite or perfect flowering variety, which 

 blooms at or about the same time as the pistillate. 



If the plants are cultivated in wide beds, then about 

 every third one should be planted with some perfect 

 flowering sort to supply pollen to the pistillate plants. 

 But, as I have said elsewhere, there is no need of , or good 

 reason for, cultivating these imperfect flowering varieties 

 at all, and, unless one should appear better than any as 

 yet known, they might all be discarded without loss to 

 either cultivators or consumers of this fruit. 



To Raise Extra Large Fruit. First of all secure 

 plants of varieties known to grow to a large size, then 

 plant in rich soil, remove the runners as soon as they ap- 

 pear, keep the weeds down, stir the surface of the soil 

 frequently, apply water as often as necessary, which will 

 be at least twice a week in dry weather, also give liquid 

 manure occasionally; in fact, force the plants to make a 

 strong and vigorous growth. In the fall, or at the ap- 

 proach of cold weather, cover the plants with hay, straw, 

 or some similar material, and in the spring remove it and 

 spade or fork up the ground between the rows, after 

 which spread over the ground sufficient mulch to keep 

 the soil moist even during the time of drought. Under 

 such treatment extra large berries may usually be pro- 

 duced. The cost of raising fruit by such modes of cul- 

 tivation is, of course, seldom taken into consideration, 

 and it really ought not to be any more than any other 

 amusement devised for our own pleasure or that of our 

 friends. 



Of course, it is not to be supposed that large and fine 

 fruit cannot be raised without extra and expensive modes 



