THE STRAWBERRY. 599 



quent stirring is more than repaid by the increased growth 

 and vigor given to the plants, to say nothing about the weeds. 

 If the plantation is small, the work may be done with a gar- 

 den rake; if large, with a one-horse cultivator, or, perhaps 

 better, with a fine-toothed one-horse harrow. If this is at- 

 tended to thoroughly through autumn, the plantation may be 

 mulched at the beginning of winter with straw. It will be 

 better, especially for heavy soils, to remove the mulching in 

 spring and mellow the surface one or more times before the 

 plants blossom. This may be done by raking the mulch into 

 every alternate row, and then, after the denuded spaces are 

 stirred, to rake it back again and do the other rows. The 

 mulch being replaced by flowering-time, the berries will be 

 kept clean. Some cultivators, who have small plantations, do 

 not disturb the mulch in spring, but loosen the soil through it 

 with a pronged hoe — but whatever course is adopted, see that 

 the weeds do not grow. 



Strawberry Runners. — The formation of runners exhausts 

 and checks the plants more than a dense mass of weeds. If 

 you wish them to become strong, and bear large, excellent 

 fruit, and plenty of it, keep the runners cut off, and repeat the 

 operation once a week through the summer. Begin the work 

 as soon as the plants begin to form runners, and not after they 

 have sent them out in profusion — which is usually immedi- 

 ately after bearing-time. If intended for increase, and to form 

 new beds, a small portion of the bed may be permitted to run 

 and root. Some varieties will often bear profusely for a sin- 

 gle season, even when the plants run thickly together ; others, 

 and more particularly the larger sorts, must be cleared of run- 

 ners and kept well cultivated, or they will bear small crops. 



Strawberries are injured in winter by severe winds, and by 

 the successive heaving of freezing and thawing. They will 

 always start earlier and fresher when covered. Sometimes 

 snow will be an ample protection, but it must not be relied 

 on. A thin coating of straw, evergreen boughs, or even corn- 

 stalks, will shield and protect the surface of the ground, but 

 it should not be applied till winter is close at hand, and after 

 the ground is frozen hard is not too late. Do not forget to 

 loosen up this mulching very early the next spring, and stir 

 and mellow the soil. 



