112 



Success with Small Fruits. 



advantage. There the plants are set in the summer and autumn, and the 

 crop is taken from them the following spring. Therefore, each plant must 

 be kept from running, and be stimulated to do its best within a given 

 space of time. In the South, however, the plants are set but one foot 

 apart in the rows, and thus little space is lost. 



I am satisfied that the method best adapted to our eastern and western 

 conditions is what is termed the " narrow row system," believing that it 

 will give the greatest amount of fine fruit with the least degree of trouble 

 and expense. The plants are set one foot from each other in line, and not 

 allowed to make runners. In good soil, they will touch each other after 

 one year's growth, and make a continuous bushy row. The spaces between 



Narrow Row and Hill Systems. 



the rows may be two and a half to three feet. Through these spaces the 

 cultivator can be run as often as you please, and the ground can be thus 

 kept clean, mellow and moist. The soil can be worked not deeply, of 

 course within an inch or two of the plants, and thus but little space is 

 left for hand-weeding. I have found this latter task best accomplished by 

 a simple tool made of a fork-tine, with a section of the top left attached, 

 thus : T- Old broken forks can thus be utilized. This tool can 

 be thrust deeply between the plants without disturbing many roots, 

 and the most stubborn weed can be pried out. Under this system, 

 the ground is occupied to the fullest extent that is profitable. The 

 berries are exposed to light and air on either side, and mulch can be 



