No. 4.] SMALL FRUITS AND BERRIES. 105 



In all planting great care slionkl he taken to have the 

 rows straight and the same distance apart. The l)ush fruits 

 should be set in check rows so that cultivating can be done in 

 both directions until the growth of the bushes prevents. In 

 all these plants the roots should be slightly shortened before 

 setting, and the soil firmed hard about them in order that 

 no air be left to dry the roots. In dry weather it is always 

 best to dip the roots in water just before setting, and if no 

 rain comes within a few days, water should be applied about 

 the plants. Cultivation should begin as soon as possible 

 after the plants are set, never letting this important operation 

 go for more than a week. On a large scale cultivation should 

 be done with horse tools and in small plantings by wheel 

 hoe and hand. Cultivation is one of the most important 

 operations in the growing of small fruits, as it not only is a 

 means of destroying weeds, but serves as the most direct way 

 to conserve ground moisture. There are various types of 

 cultivators on the market, but the best for this sort of work 

 is one that has a fair number of rather short, fine teeth. It 

 is not necessary for the cultivator to go deeply into the 

 ground, especially when cultivating the strawberry, as the 

 roots of this plant are fairly near the surface, the main object 

 being to keep the top soil well stirred in order to form a dust 

 mulch. The plow should never be used among currants or 

 gooseberries, but sometimes it is necessary to run the plow 

 beside the rows of blackberry or raspberry in order to cut off 

 surplus suckers. Cultivation with the strawberry should be 

 carried on throughout the season as late as the middle of 

 September, but with the bush fruits it should cease about 

 the 10th of August, when the land can be sown to oats or 

 buckwheat and the stubble of their crop left on the ground 

 for a winter mulch. There is some danger from this mulch 

 among currants, for if it is at all heavy mice will get in 

 and destroy the bushes, so care should be taken not to sow 

 too heavily or too early. AYinter protection for the straw- 

 berry is very necessary, but the covering should not be too 

 heavy, nor applied too early. Generally speaking, the first 

 week in December, when the ground is frozen a little, is the 

 best time for applying this cover, which may be of leaves. 



