39 



kept removed, while in others they are allowed to grow in the 

 middle of the row. Such a bed, properly managed, should be in 

 condition to bear a large crop of fine berries the second spring. 

 It may then be left during the third year to bear a second crop, if 

 one insists on it ; but the second crop is much inferior to the first, 

 and those who cultivate strawberries extensively have found by 

 experience that it does not pay to carry most plantations over 

 longer than the second year. 



There are many excellent varieties, almost any of which will 

 answer for home use, and many of which are desirable. Glen- 

 Mary, Clyde, Brandywine, Sample, Haverland, Marshall and 

 Gandy are among the best, and should be relied on when the 

 planter does not know from personal local experience in his own 

 garden, that other varieties are better. 



In general, the management of the home garden should aim at 

 a high culture, thorough cleanliness and the best enrichment of 

 the soil. It has come to be almost a part of our language that a 

 garden should be a spot exemplifying all the agricultural virtues 

 herein specified. In actual fact, however, we know that very 

 often the garden is the most neglected spot on the farm. Good 

 results in growing of fruits cannot be expected from meagre feed- 

 ing and slovenly cultivation. The trees and bushes should be 

 always arranged in such a manner that good cultivation can be 

 given with a horse and with horse tools. The mistake is often 

 made of jumbling up a garden in such a way that hand cultivation 

 is required, and this has a tendency to bring about the neglect of 

 the garden concerning which we complain. 



A word should also be said in regard to drainage. The garden 

 should have good sub-drainage. Of course this is true of any 

 other agricultural land, but it is more especially required for trees 

 and vines, because they send their roots to an unusually great 

 depth. If the sub-soil is cold and wet, therefore, a good growth 

 of trees cannot be expected. In the matter of fertilizing the soil 

 no general rule can be given. Barnyard manure is the best gen- 

 eral amendment to most soils, but where humus can be supplied 

 in sufficient quantity by other means, the liberal use of commercial 

 fertilizers should be encouraged. A mixture containing equal 

 parts of ground bone, muriate of potash and nitrate of soda may 

 safely be applied at the rate of fifteen hundred to two thousand 

 pounds to the acre annually. lu case nitrogen is supplied by the 

 growth of leguminous crops or the ap[)lication of barnyard fertil- 

 izer, the amount of sodium nitrate may be materially cut down. 



