HAVE EARLY AND LATE STRAWBERRIES 195 



roots in taking them up and they can be shipped safely 

 to distant parts and be transplanted at any season, and it 

 scarcely checks their growth. 



After the late crop is off, about the middle of Novem- 

 ber cover the bed to a depth of three inches with hay, 

 straw or leaves. In April, as soon as the plants show an 

 indication of growth, push the covering away so that 

 the plants may come up through. This "mulching" pro- 

 tects the plants from cold in winter and the heat in sum- 

 mer, keeps the fruit clean and prevents the growth of 

 weeds. 



For illustration of what the late-bearing strawberry 

 will do the following statement of an eastern expert is 

 quoted : 



"In the spring of 1910 I purchased 250 plants each 

 of Americus and Francis, and set them in carefully pre- 

 pared rich ground about May first. They were set in 

 rows 3^4 feet apart, with the plants one foot apart in 

 the row. They occupied just about one twenty-fifth of 

 an acre. 



"They were given good care, well fertilized and hoed, 

 and the weeds carefully kept out. The blossoms were 

 kept pinched off until about August 1, and on August 23 

 we picked four quarts, and they continued to yield berries 

 until November II, when the last three quarts were 

 gathered. 



"During the week of September 12th to the 17th we 

 picked nearly 100 quarts, which were shown at the State 

 Fair in Syracuse, N. Y. The largest single picking was 

 48 quarts, gathered September 29." 



