CULTURAL NOTES 



93 



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 discarded without a 

 fair trial. But with the majority, where the berry is only of medium 

 size the first season, as is the case with many of our market varieties, 

 it naturallv follows that thev will be inferior the second vear. 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 plantation before cultivation. 

 To do this mow oiTthe tops of the plants and burn. Rust, insects, 

 and old mulch are thereby destroyed. This is done as early as pos- 

 sible 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. 



Mielc/ihig. — It is necessary to protect strawberry plants with some 

 material during the winter to prevent trouble from freezing and thaw- 

 ing. The plants are perfectly hardy, and capable of withstanding 

 freezing, but some soils are liable to heave ; and the mulch remedies 

 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 material varies in different places, that most easily ob- 

 tained 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, depending upon 

 the nature of the soil, etc. Always avoid a mulch containing weed 

 seeds, as it often costs as much to clean out the w^eeds 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 cul- 

 tivation. Ordinarily, however, experience would say not to remove 

 it, as it serves to retain moisture. 



Perfect and Imperfect FloiOers. — It is a matter of importance 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. The imperfect or pistillate 

 blossoms contain pistils only. It is necessary to know, before trans- 

 planting, what varieties are pistillate, in order to plant perfect flower- 

 ino- sorts near enough to ensure fertilization. One row in every two 

 to four of the pistillate sorts is sufficient. The pistillate varieties 

 usually yield more heavily than other varieties when well fertilized. 



