ol 



Mr. Wm. Parry, who is one of the most practical and suc- 

 cessful horticulturists on a large scale, in New Jersej, gives the 

 following as one of his favorite methods of culture : 



" A plan that has given good satisfaction with me is to open furrows 

 2-2- feet apart, and spread a preparation of equal parts of marl, ashes and 

 ground bone along tlie furrows, after it has been mixed and incorporated 

 together for ten days or two weeks, until the heat, generated by the action 

 of the ashes and marl, has mellowed and softened the bone so that the 

 particles will crumble like chalk when rubbed between the thumb and 

 fingers. Using one ton of the ground bone, and the same quantity each 

 of ashes and marl, on five acres, will give a vigorous growth of dark green 

 foliage to the strawberries. 



" The ground being frequently stirred with horse and cultivator close to 

 the rows, leaves but a small portion of the ridge between the plants to be 

 loosened with the hoe. As the runners extend and widen the beds, the 

 cultivator is made narrower ; and care being taken to pass along the alleys 

 every time in the same direction, drawing the runners always in one way 

 will leave them more even and regular than if drawn both ways by going 

 back and forth in the same alley. The plants then form ridges about 18 

 inches wide with alleys one foot wide between them. This plan is more 

 certain and reliable than keeping the plants in hills and cutting off the 

 runners. There is less hand labor, most of the cultivation being done by 

 horse-power, and if some of the plants should be destroyed by grubs or 

 insects, there will be enough left to produce a good crop of fruit. 



" At the approach of cold weather or beginning of winter give them a 

 good coat of stable manure, spread evenly all over the plants. If the rows 

 are 2^ feet apart, a horse and each cart wheel will follow along an alley 

 without injuring the plants. Tlie covering with manui^e is of great impor- 

 tance, as it protects the buds and embryo fruit from severe freezing, and 

 prevents the roots from lifting and heaving out as the frost leaves the 

 ground. The rains, soaking the strength of the manure into the soil, give 

 food and nourishment to the roots. The straw and coarser materials, 

 being bleached and beaten close to the ground by the winter's snow and 

 rain, do not prevent the young growth from coming through in the spring, 

 but serve to keep the fruit clean in summer." 



I should regard this method as peculiarly adapted to Mr. 

 Parry's land, which is a very light, sandy loam, in no danger of 

 baking or becoming hard, and not greatly troubled with grass or 

 white clover, I should judge. 



]3ut I think that iu most localities the method first described 



