46 
HINTS AND HELPS 
seme perfect variety every third row so as to polleni^e the 
imperfect ones. 
The beds should be kept clean and free from weeds 
at all times. Train the runners in a circle about the 
plants. Cover in winter after the ground is frozen, to 
protect the plants from freezing and thawing. Pine or 
hemlock boughs, marsh hay, or straw free from weeds are 
the best covers. Keep them covered till all freezing 
nights are over. In the spring, apply wood ashes, 500 
lbs. to acre, and unless the ground is very rich apply 
nitrate of soda, 160 lbs. to the acre. The first }^ear it is 
well to grow some other crop between the rows, such as 
radish, lettuce, onion sets or even cabbage. 
Strawberry Barrel. 
THE BARREL METHOD. 
Take any strong barrel, nail on the hoops and clinch 
the nails inside. Then bore two or three holes in the bot¬ 
tom near the sides for drainage. Then beginning about 
eight inches from the bottom bore holes one and one-half 
or two inches in diameter, eight inches apart around the 
