THE STRAWBBEET. 165 



We have found th.6 early spring to he the best time for set- 

 ting strawberry plants. Wien but a small bed is to be planted, 

 and the plants are near at hand, they may be set at any time by 

 taking suitable pains, and selecting suitable weather ; but when 

 any large quantity is to be planted, there is danger that there 

 will be a great many failures in faU plantiag, unless the weather 

 is unusually favorable in September. If set later than Septem- 

 ber, there is great danger that the plants will not become suffi- 

 ciently rooted before winter sets in to enable them to pass that 

 trying season safely. In those parts of the country where the 

 snow does not lie on the ground all winter, and consequently can 

 not to be relied upon as a protection to the plants, it is very 

 desirable that they should be lightly covered with branches of 

 evergreens, leaves, or straw. This protects the crowns of the 

 plants, in which the fruit buds are enveloped, from the frequent 

 alternate freezing and thawing to which they might be otherwise 

 subjected, and which often kills the fruit buds before spring. 



The best plants for setting out are strong, weU-rooted run- 

 ners. Theorists wotdd have us believe that the first plant that 

 forms on each runner is better and more productive than the 

 subsequent plants on the same runner ; but this is mere theory, 

 without foundation in fact. Provided the plants be well rooted, 

 the last one on the runner is as good and as productive as the 

 fii'st. Tinder the same treatment. In field culture it is found con- 

 venient to set the plants in rows, three feet apart, so that they 

 may be tilled with a horse and cultivator, and the plants one 

 foot apart in the row. These should be carefully tilled with 

 cultivator and hoe during the iirst season, and untU the berries 

 are beginning to sweU in the second. After the fruit has been 

 gathered, the ground should be mellowed up, the weeds destroyed, 

 and the plantation tilled until the fruit begins again to sweU. in 

 the third season. This crop of fruit should be the last, and after 

 it-is gathered the plantation should be ploughed up and devoted 

 to some other crops for a few years before strawbemes are again 

 planted. 



