EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 123 



•our short rotations I have never had trouble with it. I apply 

 -the stable manure any time after the clover crop is removed, 

 as early as possible, and the next fall, or during the winter, we 

 plow this ground thoroughly, turning the stubble under, and 

 •early in the spring as possible it is put in the best condition 

 possible by the Disk Harrow. Then as soon as the plants 

 have made a little growth, and the ground is in good working 

 order, we do the planting. We claim there is some danger 

 in late planting if it is dry and hot, because the plants don't 

 get as well established as by earlier setting. We put the 

 roots about four inches deep and one to two feet apart — some- 

 times four, and cultivate both ways to save hand labor. Then 

 later in the season we cultivate but one way. A good many 

 growers cut off the first runners, not allowing any to form, 

 but we find there is a little risk if a very dry season follows, 

 as we don't get the plants well established. We allow the 

 runners to form as early as they will and turn them to fill up 

 vacancies. Then later in the season we use the runner cutter 

 •blade on the cultivator to cut off the runners. 



Our ideal method is to have each plant have a space of 

 •6 to 8 inches square. 



In setting out plants we use the machine which is some- 

 times known as tobacco transplanter. It is quite a rapid 

 method, but the ground about the roots must be made very 

 firm. You get the best results in the matter of any planting 

 by having the ground firm about the plants. If you can pull 

 a leaf off a plant without disturbing the roots, then it is 

 properly planted. In planting the roots, if they are put about 

 three or four inches below the surface, they will start much 

 ■quicker and make a better growth than if placed down six 

 or eight inches below the surface, for in the early spring you 

 must have warmth to start the little roots. You must pre- 

 serve the moisture that is so essential to the growth of the 

 plant ; keep up continuous cultivation and in the winter mulch 

 with wheat straw — that is what we use; marsh hay or grass 

 would be better if we could get it. 



In my own practice I only pick a bed one year. We 

 find that the varieties we grow give us the best fruit the first 



