CHAPTER VI. 
THE STRAWBERRY. 
In addition to the several vegetables enumerated in the 
preceding pages, there is one of the small fruits that has 
taken such a prominent place in what may be termed farm 
horticulture as to deserve mention here. It is the straw- 
berry. 
This berry is, perhaps, the most popular small fruit in 
America, and because of its perishable character, is one that 
requires strictly local production. It cannot be shipped long 
distances without loss of character and flavor, and hence the 
local grower will never be crowded out of his own market. 
The culture of the strawberry is simple and easy. There 
are many ways of setting out plants, and the after-treatment 
also differs widely. There will always be controversy con- 
cerning the respective merits of the hill system and the 
matted row system. Each cultivator must decide for himself 
which is the better. 
For the farmer, whose acres are many and whose) duties 
are pressing, there is, perhaps, no better way than to set 
strawberries in rows 4 feet apart, with plants 2 feet apart in 
the row, and to allow the plants to run together in the rows, 
giving sufficient attention to keep the alleys well stirred and 
the whole bed clear of weeds. To set an acre will require 
about 5,000 plants. 
The winter covering of litter should be raked into the 
walks or alleys as soon as winter is over and allowed to re- 
main there as a mulch for keeping the soil cool and damp 
and for the purpose of keeping the berries clean. 
