CULTURAL NOTES III 



carded without a fair trial. But with the majority, where the 

 berry is only of medium size the first season, as is tlie case with 

 many of our market varieties, it naturally follows that they will 

 be inferior the second year. Another reason for fruiting the 

 second and third seasons is to ensure a crop, as some years 

 plants do not set new runners abundantly. 



Where the bed is retained it is necessary to clean out the 

 rows as soon as the last fruit is gathered, properly cultivating 

 the intervening soil. Some practice burning over the planta- 

 tion before cultivation. To do this mow off the tops of the 

 plants and burn. Rust, insects and old mulch are thereby 

 destroyed. This is done as early as possible to give the plants 

 an opportunity to form new leaves and fit themselves for 

 winter. While this method is often successful more experience 

 is required to manage the plants than with the renewal system. 



Mulching. — It is necessary to protect strawberry plants with 

 some material during the winter to prevent trouble from freez- 

 ing and thawing. The plants are perfectly hardy and capable 

 of withstanding freezing, but some soils are liable to heave ; 

 and the mulch lemedies this. It serves not only to prevent 

 heaving but in fruiting time to keep the berries clean, and to 

 conserve moisture. It is usually applied as soon as the ground 

 freezes sufficiently to bear up a wagon and team. The mate- 

 rial varies in different places, that most easily obtained at a 

 minimum price ordinarily being used. Coarse manure, marsh 

 hay, pine needles, pine boughs, clean wheat straw, leaves 

 where held in place with, some other material, etc., are the 

 most common. Just what to recommend is a question, depend- 

 ing upon the nature of the soil, etc. Always avoid a mulch 

 containing weed seeds, as it often costs as much to clean out 

 the weeds as it would to purchase the more expensive material. 

 In the spring the mulch may be left between the rows or drawn 

 off, giving an opportunity for cultivation. Ordinarily, how- 

 ever, experience would say not to remove it, as it serves to 

 retain moisture. 



Perfect and Imperfect Flowers. — It is a matter of import- 

 ance that all strawberry growers know the difference between 

 these two classes of flowers. The perfect or bi-sexual blossoms 

 contain stamens or male organs and pistils or female organs. 



