230 



THE BEGINNER 1 S GARDEN BOOK 



For hill culture, the paths between the pairs of rows should 

 be two feet wide ; for matted rows, three feet, counting from 

 the centers of the outer rows. 



Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, and 

 the yield is about the same, though the hilled berries are 

 larger. The hills require more care in cultivating and 

 pruning, the matted rows in weeding. When the bed has 

 fruited once, it is either dug up, or very carefully weeded, and 



Fig. 122. — Strawberries, matted row culture. 



every old or spotted or red leaf plucked off. Some gardeners 

 merely mow with a lawn mower, but the hand work is best. 

 The bed should then be fertilized, and tended as before. In 

 fertilizing a matted row, sow the fertilizer when the plants 

 are dry ; then go over the bed with a broom, and brush the 

 chemical from the plants. 



Strawberry plants may be bought of dealers at two sea- 

 sons of the year. The first is early spring, when the plants 

 have not yet started. Only young plants should be accepted ; 

 the roots will not be stiff and wiry. The second season is 



