37 



The hedge-row system is an improvement on the matted-row sys- 

 tem now considerably practiced by advanced growers. Any one who 

 wishes to grow a specially fine grade of berries for home use, or for a 

 fancy market, can well afford to adopt this improved plan. According 

 to this system rows are placed about 2^ feet apart, with plants 14 

 inches apart in the row. A very limited number of new plants are 

 allowed to set from the runners, these being kept quite closely in the 

 hne of the original row. Each plant, therefore, receives the benefit 

 of much more thorough cultivation than it does in the matted-row 

 system. It also has the benefit of a larger proportion of fertihzer, it 

 has more space to develop, and it is otherwise more favorably situated. 

 Larger fruit of somewhat better grade can be grown than by the 

 matted-row method. 



The hill system is used only by enthusiastic amateurs, or those who 

 wish to grow fruit for exhibition purposes. In this case the plants 

 are set in suitable rows, the individual plants being 18 inches or even 

 2 feet apart, and each plant is kept down to a single liiU by cutting 

 off all runners as fast as they form. Thus each plant can be given the 

 very best of care, and has the benefit of all the surrounding soil and 

 hght. 



Fertilizers. 



Liberal feeding is desirable for strawberry beds. This liberality 

 must begin as soon as the plants are set out, or even before, for the 

 soil should be in first-class condition before planting. Professor Voor- 

 hees suggests 500 to 800 pounds of fertilizer, made up as follows: 

 raw ground bone, 1 part ; acid phosphate, 1 part ; muriate of potash, 1 

 part, — to be applied before setting out the plants. Plants should 

 then have an appUcation of some quick-acting nitrogenous fertihzer, 

 preferably nitrate of soda, as soon as they start to grow. This would 

 mean 50 to 60 pounds of nitrate of soda, or 50 to 60 pounds sulphate 

 of ammonia, or 100 pounds of dried blood. The necessary point is to 

 give the plants a vigorous growth from the very first. The second 

 spring, when a crop of fruit is expected, an additional dressing of 

 nitrogenous fertilizer should be given. This would consist of 100 

 pounds of nitrate of soda or 150 pounds of dried blood per acre. 



Prof. William P. Brooks, fertilizer expert of the Massachusetts Ex- 

 periment Station, makes the following recommendations regarding 

 the fertilization of strawberry plantations : — 



Pounds. 

 Tankage or Peruvian guano, ...... 600 



Fine ground bone, ........ 1,000 



Low-grade sulphate of potash, ...... 600 



Nitrate of soda, . . . . . . . .100 



All of these materials may be mixed, applied after plowing and before setting 

 the plants, and thoroughly incorporated into the soil by liarrowing. 



