THE STKAWBEERY AND ITS CULTURE. 267 



but is not true in the prairie States, for the reason above 

 given, which is well established by long experience. 



256. Setting Out and Care of the Plants. In the North- 

 ern States fall-plowing best fits the soil for spring-plant- 

 ing. The soil is fined by the winter frosts and the chance 

 of injury of the plants by cut-worms is much lessened. 

 In the spring the soil is fitted for planting by merely 

 harrowing the surface. For what is known as the matted- 

 row system set the plants eighteen inches apart in the 

 rows and make the rows four feet apart. In setting, reject 

 all plants with dark -colored roots. The new plants of the 

 previous year's growth should alone be planted, and they 

 always have light-colored roots. The usual directions for 

 planting are to prune the roots and spread them out in 

 natural position as in planting a tree. In practice this ia 

 not found to be necessary or profitable. Planting with a 

 narrow spade really gives better results. If the soil is in 

 moist but not wet condition the spade is thrust down by 

 a man walking backward. He draws the handle towards 

 him until there is room to drop in the plant with roots 

 spread out in fan shape. The assistant holds the plant in 

 place while the spade is withdrawn and then presses the 

 dirt firmly in the cavity and levels the surface so that the 

 lower leaves are not buried. If the soil is a little sticky 

 the man places the spade with its back away from him and 

 presses it down six inches, moves it from him and then 

 withdraws it. The assistant follows and places a plant 

 with roots spread out laterally in the cavity, and it is 

 firmed by another movement of the spade downward and 

 toward the plant, when the boy again firms and levels the 

 surface with his hands. This plan does not place the roots 

 in natural position, but it gets them down to moisture, 

 and when the plant begins to grow a new set of roots will 

 start in natural position. Those with most experience 



