I lO STRAWBERRY GROWING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE 



set the first season. This causes each plant to become stalwart 

 and large, and where properly grown are very productive the 

 following year. The plants are usually set in rows three feet 

 apart and one foot apart in the row. This method is little used 

 by commercial growers on account of its requiring too much 

 time to keep off the runners. Where one has a small garden 

 and desiies to make a fine display, hill culture will prove of 

 value. 



{b) Matted rows. This is the method commonly used by 

 commercial growers. The plants are set in rows varying from 

 three to four feet apart, and from fifteen to eighteen inches 

 apart in the row. When the runners start they are either 

 placed or allowed to run at will. When well set they form a 

 continuous matted row. The grower can suit himself as to 

 just how wide the row should be and train accordingly. After 

 having blocked out the row, cut off the runners to keep them 

 within bounds. When the row is about twelve inches wide it 

 is termed the Narrow Matted Row, and when about double 

 that width, the Wide Matted Row. To get the finest berries 

 the runners should be thiimed out at some time during the sea- 

 son. It is a good practice to do this after the rows are formed 

 for fear that drouth, insects, etc., may assist. Where plants 

 are fall set, comparatively few runners form. The plants 

 should not set any fruit the season they are transplanted, which 

 is prevented by picking the flower clusters. 



Beariftg Period. — Just how long a bed should be kept in 

 bearing seems to be a disputed question. Commercial growers 

 are generally agreed that from the dollar and cent standpoint, 

 more is made from the fruit of the first season than any other. 

 It is larger, plants are less troubled with insect enemies and 

 diseases, and it costs less to plant a new than clean out an old 

 bed. While this is generally advocated, it is not universally 

 followed, as many growers hesitate before turning under a 

 patch that looks well and promises fair returns for a second 

 crop. That the fruit of the second season is earlier has been 

 proved, also that the varieties fruit more readily ; but because 

 of their inferiority in size are less profitable. 



The variety has a marked influence upon this question ; in 

 fact if some were not grown for two years, they would be dis- 



