THE COUNTRY HOME [chapter 



brush; but be careful not to smother your plants. 

 I have used sawdust very satisfactorily, because it 

 need not be removed, only raked into the alleys in 

 the spring. I believe tanbark is considered a good 

 covering by those who can get it. Cut straw is 

 used by many, but this sort of covering is liable to 

 draw the mice, who will use it for nesting, and then 

 gnaw the plants. I am careful never to use straw, 

 either for covering or for mulching in the fall, but 

 an old, decaying straw heap can be utilized in the 

 spring, either as mulching about trees or as a 

 mulch between the rows of strawberries — pushed 

 up close under the stems, that would incline to 

 droop over and get soiled. This mulching of a 

 strawberry bed is exceedingly valuable in the way 

 of retaining moisture and tiding over a dry spell. 

 When the bearing season is past the mulch can be 

 forked under on a small bed, or in larger beds it 

 can be taken away for other uses. 



As for varieties, I shall not undertake to give you 

 anything like a complete list, simply because, be- 

 fore my book gets to you, there will be other new 

 and promising sorts on the market. Every year 

 sends out two or three really good new sorts, and a 

 good many more that deserve testing. Just at 



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