12 
R. M. KELLOGG'S 
GREAT CROPS ON 
hoe, rubbing the back of the edge on the rope 
"till they meet in the middle of the field. The 
work can be done very rapidly. 
Most growers use a marker making a furrow 
two or three inches wide and the same depth; 
it is sure to dodge around, making crooked 
rows, and it is impossible to tell how deep the 
plants should be put in; besides, the dry loose 
dirt is always falling in the openings for the 
plant. The ground cannot be harrowed through 
the plants, as recommended elsewhere, on 
account of the unevenness of the crowns, caus- 
ing many times as much work as if done accord- 
ing to our directions. 
Digging the Pl.\nts. 
The most convenient thing to carry the 
plants from the propagating bed to the field 
is a common market basket. Place a whole 
sheet of manilla wrapping paper in the bottom 
so as to hold about an inch of water, which it 
will readily do for several hours. Take up the 
plants with a four-tine spading fork and shake 
the dirt off the roots carefully so as not to 
injure roots or crowns, and remove all dead 
leaves, and if growth has started much a part 
of the green leaves should be taken off. Take 
a handful of plants with crowns as even as 
possible and cut the roots back to about five 
inches. A number of new roots will start out 
where the roots are cut off, greatly increasing 
their number, occupying every particle of soil, 
which will greatly increase their growth and 
vigor. 
Setting the Plants. 
Insert a common spade directly in the mark 
about seven inches deep, push it from you so 
as to make an opening about one inch wide, 
then bring it towards 
you far enough to raise 
the soil so as to leave a 
small chamber at the 
extreme bottom so that 
all loose and dry dirt 
will fall clear down out 
of the way. Withdraw 
the spade and pass 
along as rapidly as you 
can do the work well. 
Put Wilson plants about twelve to fourteen 
inches apart and eighteen inches tor the free- 
growing kinds, like Crescent, Haverland, etc. 
STBAWBEBBV 
PLANTED TOO DEEP. 
STRAWBERRY 
I'LANTED TOO SHALLOW. 
with the top of the 
The other man with 
his basket of plants 
follows closely, using 
both bands, and 
spreads out the roots 
like a fan so the soil 
will come in contact 
with every part of tlae 
roots, leaving the top 
of the crown just even 
ground. This is very 
EIOHT WAV OF PLANTING. 
important, as the fine teeth of the cultivator 
must slip around the plants when you come to 
cultivating. If you get the plants too deep 
they will rot, if not deep enough when the 
ground settles it will expose the roots. 
Now quickly press it down so that no dry 
dirt from the top will fall in on the roots, and 
press it firmly that no air may get to the 
roots. We generally 
go back over the row 
and firm the ground. 
If the ground is very 
dry a small boy walks 
along, stepping beside 
the plant, or if the soil 
is moist a quick spat 
of the hoe will do the 
business. When I first 
practiced this a man 
stepped on both sides 
of the plant and pressed it down hard as pos- 
sible and the soil baked and many plants died. 
Always remember that 
plants delight in a mel- 
low soil and if you get 
the plant in firm enough 
to tear off a single leaf 
before the plaat will 
come out and roots have 
been straightened out 
properly and soil in con- 
tact with all of them it 
will pass. You can easily overdo the firming. 
The texture and moisture of the soil must gov- 
ern in this matter. 
Why wb Cultivate. 
Plants take all their nourishment in a liquid 
form. If all the fertility of the soil was at 
once placed in this condition we can readily see 
how quickly the rains would wash it all out, 
leaving nothing tor plants to grow on. 
WRONG WAY OF PLANTING' 
