322 THE STRAWBERRY. 



good to dip the roots, after being dressed, in mud made 

 of loamy soil and old manure well mixed with water, 

 about as thick as common paint. 



In compact soil a little sand about each plant, thrown 

 into the bottom of the hole made by the dibble, will 

 hasten the growth of young roots materially. No fresh 

 manure should be used in any case whatever. 



It is essential in the culture, in order to produce good 

 crops, that the runners or new forming plants be kept 

 from growing just the same as if they were weeds. Early 

 in the spring, if the plants have been mulched, they 

 should be gone over with a rake, and the mulch all re- 

 moved from the crown or center, and as soon as the 

 ground is in condition to work, all between the rows and 

 among the plants should be spaded or plowed as deeply 

 as possible. All weeds should be kept down, and just 

 before the fruit commences to ripen a layer of straw or 

 fresh-mown grass should be placed along just under the 

 foliage and around the plants, for the purpose of keeping 

 the fruit clean. 



After the crop has matured, if plants are wanted, the 

 ground should be again dug or plowed and the mulch re- 

 moved, when an abundance of new plants from runners 

 will soon form. If in the garden, and another year's crop 

 is to be provided for, then a light dressing of well-rotted 

 manure should be dug in, and during the remainder of the 

 season all runners prevented from growing and weeds 

 kept down. 



For field crops, if the plantation has borne but one year, 

 then go through between the rows and plow deep, leaving 

 only the hills or narrow rows ; smooth down with the 

 one-horse harrow and cultivator, and then from time to 

 time go through with the cultivator, to keep down all 

 weeds and runners. If the plantation has borne two crops, 

 then give a dressing of well-rotted manure along between 

 the rows, plow deep, harrow down smooth,, and let the 



