261 SOME 
SMALL FRUITS 
To get such a return, you must first put your 
soil in good condition for planting. Have the 
soil finely pulverized and thoroughly fertilized 
with well-rotted manure, ground bone or wood 
ashes. 
Having prepared your bed and got good strong 
plants, it is now time to set them out. Before 
doing so, trim the roots even, and cut off all 
but a leaf or two on each plant. The easiest 
way is to take them in bundles of 25, fasten 
together and cut the roots of all at once. But 
do not expose the roots to sun and air during 
planting. Keep them covered with a damp 
cloth. Lay the roots carefully in the ground, 
spreading them out fan-shape, and see that the 
crown of the plant is level with the surface of 
the soil, and firm the soil well around the roots. 
A properly set plant begins to grow at once, 
becomes larger and has more fruit crowns than 
a carelessly set plant. So be careful to start 
right. 
Set the plants out in rows 18 to 24 inches 
apart, and 15 inches apart in the row. If each 
plant is set in a little hill by itself as you would 
set corn, you will find it easier to cultivate and 
also to keep the weeds down. It is as neces- 
sary to keep strawberries clear of weeds as it is 
any other crop. 
