Gathering Strawhprries — Best Varieties 197 



season, and slionld be either plowed np soon after the 

 fruit has been gathered or allowed to remain and pro- 

 duce young sets for fall planting. I should advise 

 planting a new bed every second year. 



Cultivation and Gathering. — In picking, we should 

 not take hold of the berry at all, but seize the stem just 

 below, and, unless the berry gives unmistakable evidence 

 of ripeness, twist the stem sufficiently to expose to view 

 the lower side before plucking it. If the berry itself is 

 pulled, many will come off without the cap, and if there 

 is grit on them, this will be mashed into the surface. 



Clean and shallow cultivation should be practiced 

 throughout the growing season except while the berries 

 are ripening. Fertilizers should be applied broadcast 

 and worked into the soil just before the first spring 

 cultivation begins. Under judicious management, the 

 beds may remain three years before renewing. A light 

 crop is produced the first year and full crops the second 

 and third. The runners may be allowed to remain the 

 third year to be used in forming a new bed. To keep 

 up a full supply, I have found it a good plan to keep 

 three plots — destroy an old bed and plant a new one 

 every year. Under this system two beds are in full 

 bearing all the time. ^j- 



Varieties. — Since different varieties are adapted to 

 different soils and climatic conditions, it is not practi- 

 cable to name a list suitable to allsections of the southern 

 states. Selection may be made from the following list 

 suited to almost every section of the South. I have 

 found the following varieties most satisfactor3^ The 

 Excelsior (B), the earliest, is an abundant producer of 



