STKAWBEKRY. 



67 



All abundance of moisture is one of the requisites for 

 producing large fruit, and the amateur should not fail to 

 see that his plants receive it, particularly at the time when 

 the fruit is ripening. Mulching the beds is a sure method 

 of keeping the soil moist, besides it })revents the fruit 

 from getting splashed during violent showers.. The short 

 mowings of grass from a lawn make an excellent mulch, 

 besides it looks very neat — much more so than straw or 

 leaves. 



In Europe a tile is sometimes used for the purpose of 

 keeping the fruit clean, as well as for covering the soil 

 and keeping it moist. 



These tiles are about an inch and a half thick, and 

 twelve inches square, and in two 

 parts, as shown in figure 21. The 

 hole in the center is about four inches 

 in diameter. The plants are placed 

 a foot apart in the rows, and be- 

 fore the fruit begins to ripen the 

 tile is placed about them. 



If the rows are only a foot apart, 

 then the whole surface will be 

 covered, the soil will be kept moist, and the fruit 

 clean. If water is required during the time of ripening, 

 it can be applied directly to the plant by passing to the soil 

 through the hole in the tile. These tiles could probably 

 be obtained at any pottery or brickyard if ordered a few 

 months in advance of the time they were wanted for use. 

 It would be necessary to remove the tile after the fruiting 

 season was over, and the soil should be worked over 

 among the plants; if mot it would become heavy and 

 soured from being excluded from the air. 



A newly patented article, answering a similar puiqDOse, 

 has just made its appearance in this country. It is called 

 H. A. Fuller & Co.'s Patent Strawberry Vase, and is 

 manufactured by the above-named firm at Xorwieh, Conn, 



Fig. 21. — STRAWBERRY 

 TILE. 



