30 



convenient, but where he will get fruit, he will move them around as 

 often as possible and give the land the change of a. different crop. 



The " hi]l-s3^stem " is similar to the above only the plants are 

 kept farther apart, so that in some cases the cultivator can go 

 between them both ways. I do not think, as a rule, any larger 

 fruit is obtained by this method than from the narrow and con- 

 tinuous row, and there are grave objections to it. It leaves too 

 much space unoccupied. It is difficult to mulch these wide open 

 spaces so as to keep the ground moist. These unproductive 

 spaces are apt to be widened by plants dying. In the single row 

 system if a plant dies a runner can be allowed to take root at 

 once in its place. 



What is termed the '' annual system " has great advantages, 

 especially where one has plent}- of land and can shift his beds 

 often. In this case the soil is made very rich and the plants are 

 put out in spring. The .spaces between tlie rows are cultivated 

 and kept clean until the runners start strongly and thenthese 

 are left to cover all the ground, which they will do by fall. On 

 the, approach of winter the entire surface is covered with marsh 

 hay, leaves or strawy manure, the coarsest of which is raked olf in 

 spring and stacked' for future use. Some employ straw cut into 

 inch pieces which is left on the ground, the plants growing up 

 throusi'h it. Pine leaves or needles are an excellent mulch or 

 winter protection. After the winter covering is taken off, paths 

 a foot wide are cut through the beds for the pickers and the rest 

 of the plants are left to fruit. Immediately after bearing they 

 are plowed under and the following year a crop of corn or pota- 

 toes is cultivated, and then the next spring the land is set with 

 strawberries again. Thus only one crop is taken from a plant- 

 ing. This is found a very profitable way of cultivating certain 

 varieties like the Hovey, Wilson, Charles Downing, etc. But it 

 will not succeed well with the very large varieties like the Seth 

 Boyden, Monarch, Jucunda., and Triomphe, etc. In land that 

 is inclined to be very weedy and grassy or to become hard if 

 not stirr(Ml and mulched, I fear these closely matted beds would 

 disappoint in hot, dry seasons. 



