SMALL FRUITS 211 



In every case it is essential that the plants 

 be strong, healthy, well-grown specimens and 

 that they be kept moist from the time that they 

 are taken from the nursery until they are estab- 

 lished in their new home. Probably more trees 

 and plants are injured by drying out on their 

 way from the nursery to the planter than in any 

 other way, and this injury should be prevented 

 as much as possible. A good nursery will 

 usually send out its products in excellent con- 

 dition and properly packed, but even so a 

 delayed freight shipment may ruin the 

 consignment. For this reason it is well to buy 

 from some reliable grower and then have the 

 plant material shipped by express. 



If the ground is not ready for planting when 

 the plants arrive they should be heeled in care- 

 fully until they are needed. In the North the 

 best time for planting most sorts of small fruits 

 is very early in the spring — just as early as the 

 ground can be prepared, or, as the Irishman 

 said, " earlier if possible.'' And after plant- 

 ing, the first thing the grower has to do is to 

 begin to cultivate. One strawberry grower 

 that I know makes a practice of cultivating his 

 newly set patches as soon as the plants are in 

 the ground — and keeps at it through the grow- 

 ing season. No form of fruit-growing is so 

 dependent upon thorough cultivation as is the 

 growing of small fruits. Weeds not only rob 



