The Strawberry Book. 25 
the spring, but the laborers go along the rows of hills 
early in the season and poke away enough of the mulch 
to expose the crown of the plant, which soon begins to 
grow. This operation has to be repeated several times to 
make sure that the plants are not smothered, and that no 
weeds are coming up around the vines. The hay, which 
remains on till the fruit is picked, keeps the weeds down 
and the ground moist. It is taken off with a horse-rake, 
and returned in the fall, after the ground has been well 
cultivated and kept clean through the summer months. 
As to the absolute value of the different methods of 
cultivation no fixed rule can be given. Certain varieties, 
like the Hovey, cannot be grown in hills. Some, or per- 
haps most, foreign kinds, with high crowns, do not do 
well in matted beds. Some kinds, like the Wilson, make 
the best of circumstances, and get along pretty well under 
any system. Those who grow strawberries on the annual 
plan insist that the first crop from a bed— which with 
them is the only one —is better than the second, and much 
better than the third; but a, most successful grower of my 
acquaintance, who mows off the leaves, weeds, and ma- 
nures as soon as the fruit is picked, took off a third crop 
of Wilson’s last year which he thought was rather better 
than the first, and he thinks his plants will make a good 
return the present season. 
Strawberry growers who wish to make a pretty display 
of a few hills sometimes make use of what is called the 
strawberry crinoline, — a neat little wire frame, which is 
opened and sprung together around the plant, and holds 
up leaves, fruit, and ail, so that they cannot touch the soil 
or get defaced. 
Tiles are made of flower-pot material for the same pur- 
pose. Two of them make a square, with a hole in the 
centre large enough for the collar of the plant. Being 
pushed up one on each side till they meet, they serve as a 
mulch, and prevent the fruit from getting dirty. 
