i8o AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



Where to Start the New Bed 



The making of a new bed of garden size is not a difficult 

 task. The plants, being set out in late July or August, 

 usually follow some earlier crop. For best results the groimd 

 should be as thoroughly prepared as for spring planting. 

 If a horse is available thorough cultivation with narrow 

 teeth will be the best way of getting the ground into shape; 

 or the soil may be turned over with the hand-plow attach- 

 ment of the wheel hoe, or forked up. In any case, get it 

 fine and loose and mellow. Do not attempt to plant by 

 simply digging out holes in which the plants may be set 

 in hard-packed soil. The strawberry crop depends almost 

 entirely upon the development of the large, fleshy roots 

 made the previous season. Only by having the soil in the 

 best mechanical condition can best results be obtained. 

 Grass or sod ground should be avoided because of the prob- 

 ability of injury from white grubs, the larvje of the June 

 beetle, which attack the newly set plants. Select, if pos- 

 sible, a patch in the garden that was well manured in spring 

 and has not been in sod for two or three years. Such a 

 soil with a top-dressing before planting of a high-grade 

 complete fertilizer — five pounds or so to each one hundred 

 square feet — will make a beginning from which an early 

 crop may confidently be expected. 



The plants should have a clean bill of health; the most 

 frequent cause of injury from disease is planting from in- 

 fected plants. They should be yoimg, vigorous and as 

 fresh as possible. The roots of plants received by mail 

 or express should be still in a fairly moist condition. If 

 they are very dry immerse them in water up to but not 

 over the crowns. If the stems have not been sufficiently 

 trimmed at the nursery this should be done before they are 

 soaked. The best plan is to puddle them in a thin clay-soil 

 mud, which will adhere evenly to the roots; removed from 

 the puddle and planted promptly, the soil will be brought 

 into intimate contact with the roots, favoring a quick 

 new start. The leaves, if large, should be trimmed back 



