THE STRAWBERRY 



163 



the best are the pine needles, clean rye or oat straw and 

 soy bean straw. But whatever is used, it should be free 

 from weed seeds, as nothing reduces the yield of a plan- 

 tation more certainly than numerous small plants grow- 

 ing about them and carrying off moisture and plant 

 food from the land. 



In the spring the mulch is drawn off from the crown 

 of the plants as soon as growth has begun, and after 

 the plants have begun to bloom it is best to draw the 

 mulch closely under them so as to keep the fruit clean 

 and the crown roots 

 shaded. 



Some growers 

 remove the mulch 

 in the early spring, 

 clean out all small 

 weeds, stir the sur- 

 face soil and then 

 put it back close up 

 about the plants 

 again. This in- 

 sures a clean bed 

 and helps to retain 

 the soil moisture 

 that in light land 

 is so often deficient. 



Fig. 87 Staminate or "Perfect 1 

 Strawberry Flower 



VARIETIES 



Among the hundreds of varieties that are in cul- 

 tivation, there are many that succeed well in one place 

 that do not do well in others, and the grower will have 

 to depend largely upon trial of several sorts and the 

 testimony of those who are successful in growing this 

 fruit in his own locality. It may be said that no 

 variety will succeed long in one locality. It is a fact 

 that no varieties are generally grown now that were 



