SMALL FRUITS 11/ 



" When one is growing plants only for the fruit 

 it is better to cover with short hay. The cover 

 should not be too heavy. It should be put on just 

 too thick to allow one to see the foliage. In April 

 when the plants begin to grow, I go over the beds 

 and loosen up the cover and let the crown grow 

 through the hay. On high land I use about i>^ 

 tons to the acre. On low land, which heaves more, 

 about three tons to the acre are spread. I do not 

 wait for the ground to freeze, as I formerly did, but 

 cover the beds during the first two weeks of No- 

 vember." 



" The operation of mulching in strawberry cul- 

 ture," says R. B. Rushing of Illinois, " serves dif- 

 ferent purposes, depending upon the locality in 

 which the plants are grown. A mulch acts as a 

 protection from cold, prevents freezing and thaw- 

 ing and the consequent lifting of the plants. It 

 retards growth in cold regions by shading the 

 crowns and maintaining a low soil temperature 

 longer than in soil not mulched. It acts as a con- 

 server of moisture, retards weed growth by smoth- 

 ering the young seedlings and finally protects the 

 fruit from contact with the soil. 



" The materials which can be used for mulching 

 are various, but their value depends largely upon 

 their freedom from weed seeds and their fitness to 

 protect the plants without smothering them. Whole 

 or cut straw free from grains, strawy manure from 

 the horse stable, and pine straw from the forest are 

 among the more common mulching materials. I 

 always use wheat straw, as it has given me good 

 satisfaction. However, almost any material that 

 will protect the plants will do. 



" Experience has taught me that where the 

 ground freezes and thaws several times in the 



