47 



berries give a profit at the rate of $300 per acre, with only 

 a fair share of attention. 



Strawberries can be made to do well on almost any 

 kind of soil, provided it is well drained and properly 

 enriched. A ^ood rich loam will, however, generally give 

 the best results. The ground should be thoroughly prepared 

 the season before planting. If possible, a field should be 

 selected that has been growing hoed crops for a year or two 

 previously, thus leaving the ground mellow, free from weeds 

 and the larvae of the June bug, so injurious to the roots of 

 strawberry plants. The ground should then be ploughed 

 deeply, and harrowed until the soil is broken up fine. It 

 should be heavily manured with well-rotted stable manure, 

 then cro s-ploughed and harrowed until the manure is 

 thoroughly mixed with the soil. If the planting is to be 

 done in the spring, part of the work may be left until then, 

 but it is always best to have the ground thoroughly pre- 

 pared in fall, as the planting must be done as early as 

 pos.sible in spring to insure success. The ground should be 

 rolled with a heavy roller to leave the surface smooth and 

 firm. Then mark out straight furrows three feet apart, 

 and about three inches deep. The ground is now in con- 

 dition to receive the plants. 



A boy goes ahead of the planter, and from a basket drops 

 the plants at a distance of about one foot. One boy 

 will be able to drop for two or three planters. The planter 

 takes the plant in his left hand, puts it in its place, and 

 with a sweep of his right draws in the loose earth round 

 the roots. After he has planted a row, he may take a hoe 

 and level off the earth, and tread it down firmly around 

 the plants. 



This is the quickest and most profitable way of preparing 

 the ground and planting on a large scale, but when only a 

 small plot is to be planted more care and time can be taken. 

 The field should be cultivated throughout the summer, all 

 blossoms and runners removed the first year. Cultivation 

 until the fall is necessaiy to secure the vigorous growth of 

 plants and the production of fruit buds. 



As soon as the ground freezes up the whole surface 

 should be covered with a mulching of straw, salt hay, 

 leaves, or some material easily obtainable. Spruce brush 

 makes an excellent covering. The litter must be removed 

 in the spring from the crowns of the plants, but should be 

 left between the rows if no cultivation is to be given until 

 after the crop is picked. It thus serves to keep the fruit 



».-™%^ ■jm.«»aabf!'J| 



