88 FIELD CULTURE. 



many plants to occupy the ground in the bearing sea- 

 son. Often from five to fifty times as many plants 

 can be seen on our strawberry plantations around the 

 county as can bear fruit to advantage. It not imfre- 

 quently occurs that twenty plants on a foot square will 

 scarcely ripen forty diminutive berries, whereas two 

 well selected and cultivated plants on the same space 

 will yield us one hundred noble berries of twice the 

 average size; we repeat, the strawberry must have 

 plenty of room, light, and air, to yield its full supply 

 of fruit. The low, short, stout plants are the best to 

 select and leave for fruiting. Prepare the ground by 

 clearing it, and prepare the plants by thinning them 

 out in the fall for the crop of fruit the next season, so 

 that in the spring the latter will not be disturbed in 

 the process of perfecting the fruit. 



At the close of the fruit season stir up the ground 

 with the cultivator, and prepare it for new plants 

 whenever a renewal is necessary, and in such case, 

 when the plants have become strong, run the cultiva- 

 tor through the old rows, destroying them and leaving 

 the plants on the intermediate spaces for bearing fruit 

 the next season. Each year the plant should be as 

 thoroughly prepared for fruiting as in the new bed. 

 The popular varieties for market cultivation are 

 Hovey's. Seedling and Crimson Cone among the pistil- 

 late, and Large Early Scarlet and Iowa among the 



