problem. A survey of strawberry fields in Indi- 

 ana reported in 1933, showed that fields which 

 were given five hand hoeings and about eight 

 horse cultivations produced an average of 125 

 24-quart crates per acre, while fields that were 

 given 7-7/10 hand hoeings and 14-4/10 horse culti- 

 vations produced 299 24-quart crates per acre. 

 This was for the first year. It is likely, however, 

 that part of this increase was due to better care 

 in other ways as well as more faithful hoeing 

 and cultivating. In the South, where mulching- 

 is not needed for winter protection, cultivation 

 in the spring before the mulch is applied has been 

 recommended by some. It is important to re- 

 member that two cultivations made in time are 

 much more helpful and much less work than one 

 made after grass and weeds get bad. 



I raining 



We believe the well spaced matted row is the 



most desirable system for getting the biggest 

 crops of the best berries. From four to six plants 

 per square foot are ample for fine results and we 

 believe where they can be made early and strong- 

 plants developed that three or four plants per 

 square foot would be even better. On page 14 we 

 quote some figures and results from spacing. We 

 want to point out here that we do not believe the 

 average grower can afford to be too fussy about 

 spacing the plants any particular distance. We 

 do believe, however, that the grower (or his help 

 that does most of the actual hoeing) should 

 realize that from four to six early set runner 

 plants per square foot of row is the optimum 

 number and that any excess plants made are no 

 better than weeds and just as harmful. If this is 

 kept in mind and the excess ruthlessly taken 

 out, as weeds would be, a great deal can be ac- 

 complished with very little extra time and ex- 

 pense. The width of the spaced row can be at the 

 grower's option, whether 12, 18, 24 or 30 inches 

 wide. 



Thickly set matted rows, although producing 

 heavy crops with some varieties, have the fol- 

 lowing disadvantages as compared with well 

 spaced matted rows. 1. Smaller total yield. 2. 

 Smaller average size. 3. Berries rot worse in wet 

 seasons. 4. Run down faster in dry seasons. 5. 

 Allow less effective use of mulching materials. 



6. Conditions for pollination more unfavorable. 



7. Berries poor in quality. With thickly set 

 matted rows, most growers notice that the larg- 

 est and best berries are produced along the edges. 

 For this reason the practice of cutting out a 

 strip down the center of old beds when renewing 

 is often practiced because it gives more edges. 

 Spacing, of course, provides the effect of having 

 edges all through the row. 



Hill System, or Hill rows. Under the hill sys- 

 tem of training plants are set closer together, all 

 runners are kept cut off, and the original plant 

 depended on to bear the crop. A variation of this 

 is the hill row. In this system the original 

 plants are set quite far apart (about three feet) 

 and sufficient runners for two parallel rows are 

 allowed to set to fill in the spaces, the new plants 

 being rooted from eight- to twelve-inch intervals 

 and the two rows being about 12 inches apart. 

 This system gives the benefit of growing in hills 

 but requires far less plants than under the hill 

 system proper. Grown this way berries will 

 average as large or larger than the spaced row, 

 and if rows are kept closer together the produc- 

 tion per acre may be almost as great. Probably 

 the work of keeping the surplus runners removed 

 will be less. The hill row system adapts itself 

 admirably to the use of mulching materials. The 

 hill system proper is not recommended except for 

 Everbearers. (See page 29.) The chief advan- 

 tages of these systems are the same as for the 

 spaced row with probably larger average size 

 and better grade of berries but very considerably 

 reduced yields as compared to the well spaced 

 matted row system. 



Blossoms should be removed from newly set 

 plants as soon as they appear. To allow them to 

 set berries and mature them involves a drain on 

 the vitality of the plant. Removal of blossoms 

 aids the plants in overcoming unfavorable condi- 

 tions and in starting growth and runner produc- 

 tion quicker, as well as helping Everbearers de- 

 velop the vigor required to produce a crop of 

 fruit so quickly after being set. This has much 

 added importance when the extra fruitfulness of 

 early formed runner plants is considered. 



X 



Spacing Plan 



X X 



O = PLANTS SET 



X = NEW RUNNER PLANTS 



Spacing Plan to Prove Results. Spacing for 

 Profit Would Not Be So Exact. 



Starting the Spaced Row 



»*« 



Starting the Spaced Row. When Spaces are 

 Filled Later Runners Are Cut. 



Section of Spaced Row 



, "*>- 



Section of Spaced Row as it Looks in October. 



Note the Large, Robust Plants. These Crowns 



are Chock Full of Strong Fruit Buds. 



Mulch 



mg 



A mulch is applied for one or all of several 

 reasons: First, to protect the plants from freez- 

 ing and thawing of the soil in winter; second, to 

 keep the soil cool and moist and to retard or 

 check growth of weeds and grass during the sea- 

 son when fruit is being produced; third, to keep 



11 



