RENOVATING THE OLD BED 99 
broadcasted and cultivated in, followed by 
such light applications of fertilizer as, in the 
estimation of the grower, may be needed. 
There is one practice that should be car- 
ried out, especially on mulched beds that 
are about to be renewed, and that is the use 
of the mowing machine just after fruiting. 
Run the machine with the bar set high so that 
it will cut the old leaves but not injure the 
crowns. Allow the leaves to dry for a day 
or two, then start a fire at the windward 
side and burn the bed. If the fire burns 
down the length of the row, it will be better 
than if it burned across the rows. 
Be careful that there are no large masses 
of mulch on the bed, especially over the 
plants. Sometimes it is advisable to rake 
the rows and burn the raked material in the 
cultivated strips. 
The advantages of burning are: 
1. That the bed is left clean. 
2. That insects or diseases are killed or 
controlled. 
3. That the bed, being clean, is easier to 
work. 
After one or the other of these methods is 
used, the bed is treated just the same as if it 
