36 



it is troublesome and expensive. Some men even go so far as to put 

 back the mulch after cultivating the ground. Usually the mulch is 

 left between the rows, as close to the plants as possible. It thus serves 

 to protect the fruit from becoming soiled during rain storms. Without 

 such protection the dirt spatters up onto the berries, and leaves them 

 in very bad condition for market. 



Various kinds of material are used for this mulching process. Any- 

 thing which is clean, not too full of weed seeds, and will lie closely on 

 the ground will answer the purpose. Marsh hay, poor straw and 

 other bedding material may be used. Cornstalks make an excellent 

 mulch, except that they are rather coarse. Shavings and sawdust are 

 sometimes used, but are objectionable; they are apt to injure the soil. 

 Buckwheat straw, pea straw and waste of that character are especially 

 satisfactory. 



This mulch should be put on late in the fall, after moderate freezing 

 of the ground. 



In good, well-drained soil in most towns in Massachusetts straw- 

 berries will often go through the winter in very good condition with- 

 out mulching. Nevertheless, mulching is safer, and the mulch is 

 needed during fruiting time, even though it may not be required for 

 winter protection. 



Methods of Management. 



There are four general methods of managing strawberry beds for 

 common use. These may be called (a) sohd beds, (6) matted rows, (c) 

 hedge-row system, (d) hill system. 



The old-fashioned, lazy and shiftless method of growing strawberries 

 is to keep them in solid beds. Plants are set out in rows at any ordi- 

 nary distance, and runners are allowed to form ad libitum. Within a 

 year or two the ground is entirely covered with strawberry plants. 

 These take care of themselves as well as they can, and the grower 

 accepts what fruit he gets as a gratuity. Such a bed on good soil will 

 last for five or six years and give some fruit. The best method of 

 treating such beds is to burn them over early every spring. This 

 burning kills some fungous diseases and a good many insects. This 

 method, of course, is not recommended. 



The matted-row system is the one most commonly practiced. Ac- 

 cording to this method the plants are set in double rows. There will 

 be two rows of plants about 8 inches or a foot apart, then a space of 

 3 feet for cultivation, then two more rows, then a space, etc. The 

 plants will be set 14 to 18 inches apart in the rows, usually alternating 

 in the adjoining rows. As these form runners, they are allowed to set 

 new plants along the middle of the double row and for a small space 

 on each side. The bed soon comes to consist of matted rows about 18 

 inches wide, with space for running a cultivator between. If good 

 fertiUzation is given, and good culture on good soil, such a bed will 

 give very fair results. For ordinary market purposes it answers well. 



