4 6 



HINTS AND HELPS 



seme perfect variety every third row so as to polleni^e the 

 imperfect ones. 



The beds should be kept clean and free from weeds 

 at all times. Train the runners in a circle about the 

 plants. Cover in winter after the ground is frozen, to 

 protect the plants from freezing and thawing. Pine or 

 hemlock boughs, marsh hay, or straw free from weeds are 

 the best covers. Keep them covered till all freezing 

 nights are over. In the spring, apply wood ashes, 500 

 lbs. to acre, and unless the ground is very rich apply 

 nitrate of soda, 160 lbs. to the acre. The first year it is 

 well to grow some other crop between the rows, such as 

 radish, lettuce, onion sets or even cabbage. 



Strawberry Barrel. 



THE BARREL METHOD. 



Take any strong barrel, nail on the hoops and clinch 

 the nails inside. Then bore two or three holes in the bot- 

 tom near the sides for drainage. Then beginning about 

 eight inches from the bottom bore holes one and one-half 

 or two inches in diameter, eight inches apart around the 



