174 THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 



that it was an accurate and easily made guide to the 

 workers. 



" What will you do with all the other runners? " said 

 Kate. 



" Cut them off. As you see, each woman has a pair of 

 small scissors, and snips off all the runners except the two 

 that are to be spread out on either side." 



Johnny gazed earnestly at these things for some time, and 

 then said : 



"I see what it is. This is hill culture. One plant 

 standing alone and all the runners removed, and but 

 no, it is not quite that, after all, for you do take two run- 

 ners." 



" I don't wonder you are perplexed," said Mr. Harker. 

 " This is a combination of the two plans, hill and field 

 culture. Hill culture means, as you say, that each plant 

 stands alone, and is deprived of all its runners. The people 

 who practise it claim that the strength of the plant, instead 

 of being wasted in bearing young plants, is saved, greatly to 

 the advantage of the expected crops. In using this method, 

 they usually set each plant out by itself just where it is to 

 stand. 



' l In theory they are right Cut off the runners, and 

 the crop is larger and finer. I practise hill culture, with 

 this slight difference, I do not set out all the plants at 

 once. I set but one in three,*and take from the one the two 

 that are to follow. This is not enough to hurt the plant, 



