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clearly understood that large crops are only secured from a deep, 

 rich, mellow soil. The ground must be thoroughly loosened and 

 pulverized at least a foot, and if possible eighteen inches in depth, 



I have seen a man digging over a garden plot with a short 

 fork. The ground was not stirred lower th;in six inches. No 

 wonder that strawberries left to the niercies of the "hired man" 

 usually bear so poorly. If there comes a hot dry time as they 

 are beginning to fruit, they often wilt to the ground. The fruit 

 becomes hard and dry and late blossoms and young berries never 

 mature. 



For garden culture, cover the ground at least three inches 

 with the finest and oldest manure that can be had, and then plow 

 and cross-plow, or trench with a spade to the depth of eighteen 

 inches, or at least one foot. If you cannot get old rotten barn- 

 yard manure, take the best you can; any fertilizer, with the ex-, 

 ception of lime, is better than none at all. After making the 

 ground smooth the garden plot is ready for the plants. 



Does any one object that such deep stirring and enriching of 

 the soil costs time and money. Of course it does, but the 

 return is fifty per cent profit, w^hile it is doubtful whether the 

 old slovenly method would yield legal interest. 



But let us say' here that the soil must never be worked when 

 it is too wet. If it crumbles under the spade or plow, it is in 

 proper condition. If it is sticky and turns up shiny from the 

 plow-share wait till the sun, wind, or drainage have performed 

 tlieir offices. 



In field culture, land from which a crop of corn or potatoes 

 has been taken is in a proper condition to prepare at once for 

 strawberries. If full of stones, clear it as far as possible, as they 

 are unsightly and prevent thorough cultivation. Cart on manure 

 till the ground is thoroughly covered. Though this advice may 

 not apply to Western prairies, at the east and south we rarely 

 err in over-enriching our ground. Turn all under with a heavy 

 plow, followed if possible with a subsoil plow. Pick off the 

 stones again if there are any, and cross-plow as deeply as possible, 

 barrow and pick what stones are left and you are ready for the 



