MANAGING THE SOILi 



479 



pursued, remove all large leaves, and protect the roots care- 

 fully from wind and sun. 



It is probable that starter or nutrient solutions now used 

 in transplanting vegetables would aid in getting the plants off 

 to a quick start. This should prove very important in ap- 

 plication to strawberries since the early-formed runners are 

 much more productive than those formed later in the season, 

 AVatch for further announcements from the experiment stations. 



7. Managing the Soil, 



Procedure: 



(a) Cultivating the soil. 



(6) Fertilizing the plants. 



(c) Shall irrigation be practiced? 



(a) Cultivating the Soil. Cultivate frequently for best 

 results. Not only does this keep down weeds and grass and 

 conserve moisture, but the new plants formed on the runners 

 establish themselves much more quickly in a loose soil than 

 in one that is hard and baked. Do all cultivation possible by 

 horse or tractor power. Most of it can be done this way if 

 directions for treatment of the field previous to planting have 

 been followed. The hand hoe, however, cannot be entirely 

 discarded. A wheel hoe is useful, especially under the hill 

 system of management. Rolling cutters on the cultivator 

 help to limit the width of the matted rows. The plants, have 

 shallow roots. The first cultivation may be deep, but later 

 cultivations close to the plants must be shallow. Adjust the 

 outer cultivator teeth with this in mind. In many regions, 

 care is taken during the first summer while hoeing the bed to 

 space the young plants at regular intervals so that uniform 

 matted rows are obtained. 



Cultivate up to late fall to discourage the weeds that 

 appear even late in the season and to keep the plants growing. 



Remove the first blossom stalks, as the formation of fruit 

 soon after setting taxes the vitality of the plant severely. 



