178 AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



best. It should be thoroughly worked into the soil before 

 planting, however, either broadcast or along the row. Fer- 

 tihzer used directly under the plants at the time of setting 

 is very Ukely to cause injury. 



The system of growing most generally used is the matted 

 or soKd row. The hill system has its advocates and its 

 advantages, but the suggestions herewith, unless the hill 

 system is mentioned, apply to the matted row. With this 

 system a new bed is generally made every second year, 

 or a smaller one, for the same total amount of space, every 

 year, so there will be first and second crop berries each 

 season. 



Care of the New Berry Bed 



Often the bed that has grown two or even three crops is 

 renewed in the same place. Sometimes the bed must be 

 kept in the same spot, and then this practice must be 

 followed. Generally it is less work to make a new bed. 

 The berry grower, then, finds himself at the end of each 

 fruiting season with one or all of several different jobs 

 demanding his attention: The care of the bed that has 

 just borne its first crop of fruit; the maintenance, if desired, 

 of the older bed; the estabhshing of a new one, and the care 

 of the fall or spring planted patch. 



Care of the new bed which has borne for the first time 

 depends largely upon the condition in which it has been 

 left. If there are only a few weeds these can be pulled out 

 or cut off at or just below the surface. Generally, however, 

 the quickest and best way is to remove the mulch between 

 the rows, taking one row at a time; to give a thorough cul- 

 tivation, working in a top-dressing of fertilizer at the same 

 time, and then to replace the mulch. 



Another advantage of thus removing the mulch is that 

 then the rows can the better be trimmed up to their bounds; 

 they should not be over fifteen to eighteen inches wide. 

 Runners, or plants that have rooted beyond these limits, 

 should be cut off; the tendency of almost all plants of all 

 varieties is to form too many new plants. If you want good 



