86 A MANUAL OF 



to become dry even below the roots, before 

 they have taken a start and the plants die. 

 We therefore have had better success in set- 

 ting as we would set cabbage plants, by mak- 

 ing a hole some three or four inches deep with , 

 a dibber, and putting the roots down as far as 

 possible without getting the crown below the 

 surface. This will give the plant moisture 

 until new roots are developed, so that fewer 

 vacancies will be found in the bed. 



We believe that nothing is gained in our 

 locality by fall setting, but, on the contrary, 

 spring planting has every thing to recommend 

 it. We know that many claim a half crop the 

 first season upon fall-planted vines. This we 

 have yet to see them do. Of course we get a 

 few, but the extra cost of covering the plants 

 with straw the first winter, which must be 

 removed in order to cultivate in spring, more 

 than balances the gain. In some sections 

 strawberries may be profitably grown without 

 any winter covering, or protection from the 

 cold. But it is not so with us. The continual 

 freezing and thawing lifts the plants from their 

 position little by little, until they are left en- 

 tirely upon the surface, where the frost and wind 

 hold high carnival over the remains until not a 



