AFTER CARE — FERTILIZERS 4I 
much nitrogen may result in excessive growth 
rather than fruit. Potash will give a stocky, 
compact growth, and phosphoric acid with 
potash has a tendency to earliness in pro- 
duction, solidity coupled with quality and 
colour of the fruit. 
If barnyard manure be used as a mulch the 
first year, during the fall, winter, and early 
spring, it will be sufficient for the crop in the 
second year. Of course the major part of 
the coarse material of the manure, such as 
long straw, weeds or hay, will be removed in 
the spring, allowing the finer parts to come 
into close contact with the moist soil. 
Knowing that the preparation period of 
growth of the strawberry before bearing is 
but one year, and that getting a large crop 
of good size and good quality fruits depends 
upon the acquired strength, growth, and 
vigour of the plant during this priod, it is 
highly important that all the surrounding 
conditions should be of the very best. 
This being true, and the fact that stable 
manure for one reason or another is out of the 
question, what can be done to obtain a maxi- 
mum crop of fruit? Many writers advise 
applications of chemicals without any re- 
