Rotations, Manuring and Fertilizing 45 



strawberries, the second planting may need fertilizing. 

 The strawberry crop lends itself readily to association 

 with other crops. It occupies the land but a compar- 

 atively short period ; it is of a low habit ; the plants may 

 be restricted to a limited space ; and the fruit ripens in 

 early spring, making it possible to plow the vines under 

 and plant summer or fall crops. 



Crops grown with strawberries are of two general 

 types : rotation crops, those that are a part of a definite 

 scheme of succession, usually including one or more that 

 are introduced to improve the fertility of the land ; and 

 companion crops, those that are grown in association 

 with strawberries merely as a matter of convenience, or 

 to seciu-e the fullest use of the land. 



ROTATION PRACTICE IN DIFFERENT REGIONS 



Very few growers follow a definite rotation. The 

 exigencies of the season, market conditions and expe- 

 diency in other respects frequently make it necessary to 

 modify the plan. When virgin ground can be secured, 

 it is preferred. If it is necessary to use old ground, most 

 growers endeavor to precede strawberries with some other 

 crop for at least two years. If one of these is a green- 

 manuring crop, and the crop immediately preceding 

 strawberries is one that will cleanse the land of weeds, 

 so much the better. 



In the North. 



The most common rotation throughout the North is 

 red clover, Irish potatoes and strawberries. This lasts 

 three or four, occasionally five, years. A one or two year 

 old clover sod, preferably top-dressed with manure, is 



