326 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. 



one ID a thousand of Strawberry plants that have 

 been struck in pots, will fail to grow. For the first three 

 or four weeks after planting, nothing need be done except 

 to hoe the beds, so that all weeds are kept down. Be 

 careful to do this once in every ten days ; for if the weeds 

 once get a start it will treble the labor of keeping the 

 ground clean. In about a month after planting they 

 will begin to throw out runners, all of which must be 

 pinched or cut off as they appear, so that by the end of 

 the growing season (1st of November), each plant will 

 have formed a complete bush one foot or more in diame- 

 ter, having the necessary matured "crowns" for next 

 June's fruit. By the middle of December, the entire beds 

 of Strawberry plants should be covered up with salt 

 meadow hay (straw, leaves or anything similar will do as 

 well), to the depth of two or three inches, entirely cover- 

 ing up the plants and soil, so that nothing is seen but 

 the hay. By April, the plants so protected will show in- 

 dications of growth, when the hay over each plant is 

 pushed a little aside, to assist it in getting through the 

 covering, so that by May, the fully developed plant shows 

 on the clean surface of the hay. This "mulching," as 

 it is called, is indispensable to the best culture, as it pro- 

 tects the plants from cold in winter, keeps the fruit clean, 

 keeps the roots cool by shading them from the hot sun 

 in June, and, at the same time, saves nearly all further 

 labor after being once put on, as few weeds can push 

 through it. By this method, we prefer to plant new beds 

 every year, though, if desired, the beds oncje planted may 

 be fruited for two or three years, as by the old plans ; 

 but the fruit the first season, will always be the largest in 

 size, if not greatest in quantity. Another advantage of 

 this system is that, where the space is limited, there is 

 quite time enough to get a crop of Potatoes, Peas, Beans, 

 Lettuce, Radishes, or, in fact, any summer crop, off of the 

 ground first, before planting the Strawberries, thus taking 



