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CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



of making the beds a little lower than the general surface of th 

 ground, answers best on free, open soils with perfect drainage. 

 Cultivation can be reduced by covering the depressed surface of 

 the bed with mulch of fine, clean litter, such as chaff, cut straw, 

 etc. This retains moisture and gives the berry a clean surface to 

 rest on. Such a bed is an excellent arrangement for the home gar- 

 den. 



In all arrangements the plants are set at less distances in the 

 rows than the rows are from each other. Probably the prevailing 

 distance is one foot between the plants ; the range is from eight 

 to eighteen inches in the practice of different growers, and deter- 

 mined, of course, largely by the habit of the variety. A vine like 

 the Sharpless, with a spreading growth and long fruit stems needs, 

 perhaps, sixteen inches which some growers give it, while the 

 smaller more compact, Longworth Prolific, may do well with half 

 that distance. 



Planting Strawberries. Strawberry plants are set out either in 

 spring or fall, or at any time in the winter when the ground is warm 

 and in good condition. Fall planting usually gives a fuller spring 

 crop though planting as late as February has brought two crops the 

 following spring and summer, and planting in April has secured 

 fruit the same year, but it is better to prevent it and induce more 

 growth. Spring planting is in April and May. In the drier parts 

 of the State, early fall or winter planting is more essential than else- 

 where. If the ground is dry, water should always be used in plant- 

 ing. This may be given by thorough irrigation of the ground be- 

 fore planting, or a little water may be used in setting each plant. 

 At planting it is usually best to remove all leaves from the plant, 

 shorten the roots to three inches or less, and be sure the plants 

 do not dry while planting progresses. As with handling rooted 

 grape-vines, it is advisable to carry around the plants in a vessel 

 which has water in it. If the plants have been received by mail 

 they are invigorated by soaking in water a few hours before plant- 

 ing. 



In setting the plants, scoop out a little excavation with the hand 

 or a trowel, spread the roots well, cover with fine soil, being sure 

 that the crown of the plant shall not be below the surface when the 

 soil is leveled. Too many strawberry plants are buried, not planted. 

 Some plant very rapidly by using a dibble to make a hole, into 

 which the roots are dropped and soil pressed around them by using 

 the dibble alongside ; others set the plants on the side of the fur- 

 row, trusting to the next furrow to complete the covering. Nearly 

 all ways succeed if the plant is not set too deeply and the ground 

 is moist at planting and not allowed to dry out afterwards pro- 

 viding good, strong plants are used. In buying plants it is often 

 poor economy to buy the cheapest. 





