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plant to form a matted, narrow row, similar to Fig. SO,. These rows will yield as fine 

 fruit as those kept strictly in hills, while at the same time, by hoeing out the old plants 

 every two or three years, and leaving a new plant between each old original plant, the 

 bed is- as good as new each year— in fact, we believe it to be one of the best " renewal" 

 systems that can be practiced, and the only one that will produce large crops of large 

 fruit every season. Of course these several plants that are allowed to set should be 

 cleaned out after each crop, and runners kept off, same as before, 



MATTED HILL SYSTEM. 



This is practiced by many. Set one strong plant, or, if small, two plants, three feet 

 each way. Keep the cultivator going both ways, and the plant free from weeds. As 

 they throw out runners keep the cultivator going through theni as often as possible 

 both ways, having it set so that the two hind teeth will be about two feet in width. In 

 this way the runners will be thrown around so as to set the plants close in around the 

 original plants, and by this means soon form a matted hill, as shown in Fig. SI. 

 After they have set sufficiently thick, the cultivator can be narrowed down to about 

 eighteen inches in width, and kept this width the rest of the season, keeping it going 

 through both ways as often as possible, until the ground freezes. Then mulch as 

 before described. We would advise, however, setting not to exceed 2£ feet each way, 

 and keep runners off until quite, late, as recommended in the " Hill and Row System." 

 and then allow a few plants to set, say four to five, around each-hill. Many cultivator? 

 advocate and prefer what is termed, the 



ANNUAL SYSTEM. 



Which is to set the plants 1 foot by 3i or four feet. Keep well cultivated the first year, 

 same manner as described in the "Matted Row System." Allow them to bear the 

 second season, or first fruiting season, and then plow under. If a person has plenty of 

 land this is a very good plan. In doing so, however, new beds must be set every 

 spring. If the plantation gets foul or weedy, it is no niore trouble to 'set a uew plan 

 (ation than to clean out the old one. If, however, plenty of manure is to be had, and 

 one has but a few acres of land, we would advise keeping the same plantation in fruit- 

 ing for at least three or four years. Another manner of growing them in many parts 

 of the country and advocated by many, we must truthfully call the 



SLIP SHOD SYSTEM. 



This is to plant out, cultivate and hoe once or twice, and then, " let them run * 

 covering the entire surface with plants and weeds. If there is danger of too many 

 weeds going to seed they pass over and mow them down; Others let them get as 

 weedy as they will and then burn over the plantation after they get ripe, which we 

 think is preferable. After they are through fruiting a plow is run through the planta- 

 tion every three or f our feet both ways and the ground all harrowed over. They are 

 then allowed to run, and the same care taken as before described. Of course the more 

 manure they can have scattered among them the better they do, and the longer they 

 can occupy the same ground. We would not advise this plan, but still, when help is 

 scarce and high, it is sometimes a necessity. When this system is practiced we would 

 advise a liberal quantity of mulching to be scattered among the plants every fall. 



HILL AND MATTED ROW SYSTEM. 



After growing them in hills, as before described, for two or three years— or until 

 they commence to fail in bearing large crops— they can be allowed to run and form 

 matted rows. Some varieties, like the Wilson's Albany, will only bear two or three ■ 

 good crops in hills, when they must be allowed to run. Other sorts, like the Triomnhe 

 de Gand, will yield large crops for a number of years in succession, if kept in bills 



