Il6 MAKING HORTICULTURE PAY 



be very good. AVithout the decaying pea vines or 

 manure it would not be so efficacious. 



" Potash is best supplied by either muriate or 

 sulphate of potash at the rate of 50 to 75 pounds 

 to the acre, applied in spring just before setting the 

 plants. It costs about $52 a ton. Kainit, 200 to 

 300 pounds to the acre, would answer the same 

 purpose, but it is not so desirable. Ordinary wood 

 ashes may also be used like the other fertilizers, 

 either in the spring before planting or later about 

 the plants. As much as 40 to 50 bushels to the 

 acre may be safely applied at one time." 



MULCHING STRAWBERRIES 



" My strawberry plants are covered in winter 

 with lowland hay," says S. H. Warner of Mid- 

 dlesex county, Massachusetts. '' I like the long 

 blue-jointed variety the best. It is possible to put 

 it on much more quickly than shorter, finer hay. 

 This covering is raked off about April i. 



" After the fruit is well set short hay is placed in 

 the paths to keep the fruit clean. The plants are 

 set in September and October. The narrow rows 

 are covered with forest leaves and sprinkled with a 

 little earth to keep the plants in place. They make 

 a good cover, but should be parted over the crowns 

 as soon as the plants begin to grow. 



" Some people cover with pine boughs. I 

 have tried them, but do not like them for a cover. 

 In the first place it takes too long to do the work, 

 and, when they are removed, in the spring, if the 

 weather is cold many of the plants are hurt unless 

 the branches are taken off very early. The plants 

 start to grow early, and spindle up under this cover 

 more than under hay, and are very tender. 



