134 APPENDIX. 



raking them off early in the spring, the plants came 

 out in fine order. In the same way we have covered 

 with clean wheat straw, and found it answer well. In 

 all the Northern and Western States, some winter pro- 

 tection is of great service, although not indispensable. 

 In field culture, the earth might be ploughed up to 

 the plants, as is done with nursery trees, in such a 

 manner as to afford considerable protection against the 

 action of frost on the root. 



As soon as the fruit begins to attain its full size, and 

 approach maturity, the spaces between the rows, which 

 up to this time have been under clean culture, should 

 be covered with straw, litter, or moss. This will 

 serve the double purpose of keeping the fruit clean 

 and retaining the moisture in the soil. When copious 

 supplies of water are to be applied, which should 

 always be done when practicable, stable litter is a good 

 mulching, as the water poured on it carries down with 

 it to the roots of the plants the fertilizing materials 

 which it contains. 



The application of water in abundance we must 

 again recommend to all who want the finest fruit. 

 Rains are very good, but they cannot be relied upon, 

 and they- always deprive the fruit of its flavor, while 

 artificial waterings do not. On this account the 

 French gardeners say that the strawberry " prefers 

 water from the well to water from the clouds." It is 



