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FRUIT AND GARDEN NOTES. 



While the plants remain here we must guard against 

 excessive heat and cold. The sash may be slid back, 

 partly raised or wholly removed at times. Our aim 

 must be to get the plants toughened by the time they are 

 to be sei out. 



Still, if we have neglected to start them as early as we 

 should have done, there is a way to success. In such 

 case send to a reliable plant-grower south of you early in 

 April, and buy the required number of small plants, 

 which, if only a few, can be sent by mail, and will cost 

 but little. Plant at once in a hotbed or coldframe, and 

 treat as advised for the plants started in a box in the 

 window. When all danger of frost is over (June i in 

 this location), transplant to the open ground with the 

 utmost care. Two men, each with a square-edged 

 shovel, can take a plant out of the bed without disturb- 

 ing it much. By training to one stalk the ripening pro- 

 cess may be hastened a little at the expense of quantity. 

 I therefore recommend that a part of the plants should 

 be treated in this way, in order to get a supply early in 

 the season, but I would allow the rest more freedom, in 

 that way securing a greater quantity, though later. — 

 F. Greiner, Ontario Co., X. V. 



PLENTY OF STRAWBERRIES WITH LITTLE EXPENSE. 



Prepare the ground thoroughly by plowing, harrowing 

 and roiling. Next stretch a line on one side lengthwise 

 of the field and set the plants by it two feet apart, by 

 inserting a small brick-trowel at an angle of 45°, drawing 



the handle towards you with the right hand, taking the 

 plants from a bucket of water in the left and giving them 

 a slight jerk as they are inserted, so as to throw the roots 

 into a fan-shape. Press the earth firmly against the 

 roots with the foot. Place the rows three feet or more 

 apart, planting every fourth row with a staminate variety. 

 Set as early in the spring as possible. 



After the first rain the field should be gone over with a 

 small-toothed cultivator. Cultivate often until the run- 

 ners begin to take root. Have the cultivator well-spread, 

 and always go in the same direction between two rows. 

 This will carry the runners away from the middle, and 

 leave them near the rows. Hoe out any rank weeds. 



When the ground freezes cover with straw or strawy 

 horse-manure. After the picking-season continue the 

 cultivator as during the first season. Prevent any weeds 

 from going to seed by clipping with a sharp scythe. 

 When winter comes cover as before. After gathering 

 the second crop, plow the field and plant to turnips, 

 pickles, sweet-corn or other crops. Never try to pick a 

 third crop from the field. It won't pay. I know growers 

 who hoe their fields from two to five times each season. 

 Of course they get fine berries and a few more quarts to 

 the acre, and perhaps two cents per quart more for their 

 crop. But the cultivation has cost ten times as much, 

 and therefore their net proceeds from one acre have not 

 equaled mine, and as I raise berries for profit and not 

 for glory I prefer 'this somewhat slip-shod method. — 

 J. E. ScHOOLEY, Dearborn Co., Indiana. 



MY DAYS ARE GARDENS. 



days are gardens, and in them 1 sow 

 Fair flowers of truth, or weeds of sm and woe. 

 Each hour, each moment, thoughts and deeds supply 

 The harvest I must gather, hv-and-hv. 



O, may 1 scatter, then, of pure and true, 

 The living germs in all I say or do ! 

 Terchance, my God at even may delight 

 To print such gardens with His footsteps white. 



—James Buckham. 



