Strawberries. 67 



screen the ground from the rays of the sun, and no more 

 covering than is barely sufficient to do so should be put on. 

 In most cases inexperienced persons put on too much, and 

 by so doing smother the plants. Better not mulch at all 

 than mulch too heavily. It is well to put the mulching 

 uniformly over the bed ; on, as well as around the plants. 

 Whatever is put on must be kept from blowing away by 

 the use of poles, boards, fine manure or earth thrown upon 

 the mulching between the rows of plants. Leaves are par- 

 ticularly liable to be blown off unless thus weighted. In 

 the east, where material for mulching is sometimes scarce, 

 earth is frequently hoed upon the plants as a protection. 

 This answers a purpose, but it is troublesome to remove in 

 the spring. The winter mulching should remain on the 

 strawberry until the plants start to grow in the spring. 



PROFIT IX STRAWBERRIES. 



After the first year, the following is a fair estimate][of 

 the profit in raising berries. : 



ONE ACRE EXPENSE. 



Irrigation and Cultivation $50 00 



Picking 2,5(X) quarts at 2% cents G2 50 



Baskets, Boxing and Marketing 50 00 



Commission, 10 per cent 50 00 



Total expense 212 50 



RESULT. 



2,500 quarts, averaging 20 cents $500 00 



Balance of profit 287 50 



Mr. L. K. Perrin, however, who is one of the^oldest 

 fruit growers in Colorado gives a better showing even*than 

 the above. He says that $550 worth of strawberries can 

 be gathered off an acre of ground in one year ; that^it costs 

 to cultivate one acre about $50 per season ; that three cents 

 per quart for picking and about ten cents per quart for box- 

 ing and preparing for market, and that the entire cost^for 

 cultivation, water for irrigation, picking, boxing and [ship- 

 ping to market does not cost over $150, leaving ajnet profit 

 of $400 per acre. 



