CULTIVATION 327 



Sometimes strawberries are grown on the hill system. 

 The plants are set eighteen inches to two feet apart each 

 way and no runners are allowed to set about the plants. 

 They may then be cultivated each way, and strong, vigor- 

 ous crowns will be produced. Under this system, the largest 

 and finest berries may be produced, but the production is 

 so much smaller on any given area that it seldom proves a 

 desirable commercial system. 



Cultivation. --The strawberry is a very shallow-rooted 

 plant, and since it thrives under cool, moist conditions, 

 frequent shallow cultivations are required. When the 

 plants are set on the matted-row system, it is advisable to 

 cultivate each row always in the same direction. If not, 

 the runners will be disturbed by the cultivator. Cultiva- 

 tion must be continued until late fall, as the growth is very 

 rapid and runners are produced very heavily during the 

 late summer and fall. It is quite necessary that the patch 

 be absolutely free from weeds when freezing weather 

 finally stops the growth. 



Strawberries are generally mulched, in late fall or early 

 winter after the ground has frozen, with clean straw free 

 from weed seeds, or with marsh hay. This prevents the 

 alternate freezing and thawing during late winter and early 

 spring which tears the roots and kills the plants. This 

 mulch is left on the patch until after the harvesting season, 

 ^thus taking the place of cultivation the following spring. 

 Generally, it is the practice of the growers to remove the 

 straw slightly from the tops of the plants as soon as the 

 growth begins in the spring. During the harvesting period, 

 the straw about the base of the plants keeps the fruit clean 

 and free from grit. 



Where strawberries are grown on a commercial scale, 



