THREE PLANS OF GROWING STRAWBERRIES 235 



and Gandy. These groups are numbered in the order of their 

 ripening. Others popular in many sections are Glen Mary 

 Brandywine, Warfield, Bubach, Marshall, Climax, Melinda, Jessie, 

 Gold Dollar, Clark, Wilson, Americus, Iowa, etc. 



The Indiana Station found the following varieties to be supe- 

 rior to others in their season: 



Late 



Grays Dollar 

 Black Beauty 

 Columbia 

 Chesapeake 

 Sample 



Latest 



Gandy 

 Ohmer 



Three Plans of Growing Strawberries. — Far the most common 

 method of growing the strawberry is known as the matted-row 

 system. In this plan the plants are set about twelve to eighteen 

 inches apart in rows four feet apart. The runners from these plants 

 are allowed to take root in all directions until a rather solid mat is 

 formed two feet wide (Fig. 162). This leaves a space for culti- 

 vation between the matted rows of about two feet. The weeds 

 growing in the matted rows are pulled by hand. 



The hedge-row system (Fig. 163) is coming more into use in 

 nearly all parts of the country where it has been tried. By this 

 plan the plants are first set in rows about three feet apart and are 

 allowed to set their runners only in a narrow row forming a dense 

 "hedge." The runners extending outside this middle space are 

 cut off by a wheel cutter, hoe, or spade. The entire middle is 

 thoroughly cultivated and all of the strength of the plants is forced 

 into the crowns, blossoms and fruit. 



The hill-row system(Fig. 164) differs from the hedge-row system 

 in not allowing the runners to reach out in any direction. The 

 plants are set in rows both ways about three feet apart each way. 

 Cultivation is given in both directions. The plants attain stronger 

 crowns by this method than by any other. Of course the number 

 of plants per acre is less. 



The student should compare the advantages of the three systems. 

 The principle should be kept in mind that plants which allow run- 

 ners to form continuously will not make strong crowns nor bear 



