302 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



The l)cst general method in field culture is to set the young 

 plants in rows three feet apart. The strong growers, as 

 Jenney's Seedling, Early Scarlet, Boston Pine, McAvoy's 

 Superior, and Primate, may be set two and a half feet apart in 

 the row, but slow growers like Ilovey's, should be set from 

 twelve to eighteen inches apart. As they send out runners, 

 place them so that the young plants will fdl up a bed twelve or 

 fifteen inclies wide. A horse hoe or a cultivator may be used 

 between the beds. For field culture, set strong jjlants of the 

 last season's growth, in spring. Do not set them too early. 

 May is the best time in this latitude. For gardens, the lirst of 

 September is quite as suitable. 



In buying plants for field or garden culture, it is cheaper to 

 get them of those who will furnish good ones, even if the first 

 cost should be greater. Some dealers send out very good 

 plants, and others exceedingly mean ones. A fair remunera- 

 tive price should be paid, and good plants always be given. It 

 is essential in our climate, that the vines be protected in winter 

 with straw, salt hay, sea-weed, or some other suitable covering. 

 The fruit should all be gathered, if possible, when the vines are 

 not wet with dew or rain. It should be carefully picked when 

 fairly ripe, as carefully looked over and prepared, and be placed 

 in clean boxes. 



It is the custom here to remove the stem and calyx before 

 sending to market. This necessarily breaks the skin, and often 

 bruises the berries, and they lose some of their flavor and do 

 not keep so well. Those who desire their fruit in all its fresh- 

 ness and beauty, should order it with the handles on. It Avould 

 be but a pleasant task for the daintiest fingers, to prepare so 

 nice a dish for the table, if required. But wherever prepared, 

 it is due to the buyers that it should be done in a nice and 

 cleanly manner. The boxes of fruit should always be carried 

 in some careful way, and not be jumped and jolted to market. 

 A multitude of directions might be given, but all would not 

 supply the want of intelligent care and practical skill in those 

 who perform the labor in the various departments of strawberry 

 culture. And it is here that cultivators find a great difficulty, 

 but it is perhaps not altogetlier insurmountable. 



The amount of the strawberry crop varies according to sea- 

 son, soil, kind and culture, from 600 to 2,400 quarts of •prepared 



