CHAPTER VIII. 
STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 
*"T f HE strawberry is one of the most important of the 
1 small fruits. It will grow with a fair degree of suc¬ 
cess on most any soil. A moist, dark, sandy loam is best. 
Any soil that will grow a crop of corn or potatoes will 
grow strawberries. The richer the soil the larger the 
crop. It should be well drained. If the water level is 
high, the land should be underdrained, otherwise surface 
drainage will be sufficient. The soil should he thoroughly 
prepared , thoroughly plowed , heavily manured , and thoroughly 
harrowed until the surface is fine and mellow before the 
plants are set. The setting is done either in the spring, 
summer, or early fall. The early spring is best, unless 
pot plants are used. In setting, use only the runners. 
Take them up with a fork. Pick off old, dry leaves. Use 
only plants with light colored roots and clip off one-third 
of them. Do not let the sun shine on the roots. 
For a garden, set the plants two feet by two feet. 
Make a marker like a rake with the teeth, two feet apart. 
Mark the land both ways. A man should mark an acre 
in half a day. The plants are then dropped by boys at 
each section. They are set by men who pick them up 
with their left hands and spread the roots in a fan shape 
between the fingers at the same time opening the hole with 
the right hand. Lower the plant into the ground with the 
left hand, press the soil firmly about the roots with both 
hands, leaving the crown slightly lower than the surround¬ 
ing soil. Be very careful not to cover it. One man should 
set half an acre in a day. If the ground is not wet each 
plant should receive one pint of water. 
For field culture, the plants are often set three feet 
apart in the rows, with the rows three to four feet apart. 
Where pistillate varieties are used it is necessary to have 
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