Instructions for Growing 
WHEN TO PLANT. Early spring, April and May. Just 
as early as the soil can be worked in th e spring. The 
earlier the better, while the plant is yet dormant, and 
before the weather gets too warm and dry. 
WHERE TO PLANT. In any soil that will grow other 
good crops—good rich, sandy loam preferred—-that will 
drain easily. Avoid low, frosty places. 
HOW TO PLANT. Have soil plowed deeply and har¬ 
rowed and well leveled. Spring plowing is all right, but 
fall plowing is better (except sod), as it allows the soil 
to settle and turned under vegetable matter to decay. 
For field culture have rows 3 feet 8 inches apart and set 
plants 18 inches apart in the row, more or less, accord¬ 
ing to different varieties, using a trowel or spade to make 
holes. Spread roots fan-shape, being careful to have the 
holes deep enough so the roots will not be folded back. 
Set crowns even with the top of ground; then firm the 
dirt well around them. Too shallow setting will expose 
roots to sun and wind and plants will die. Too deep will 
smother the crown and plant will not live. Set plants in 
water and they will survive much better. Follow in¬ 
structions closely, if you expect to succeed with straw¬ 
berries. 
CULTIVATE frequently throughout the growing sea¬ 
son and early fall, as this preserves the moisture. Hoe 
them when necessary and a little soil thrown on the run¬ 
ners helps them in rooting. Keep fruit stems picked from 
newly set plants until after July 1. Everbearers will pro¬ 
duce a full crop on stems set on after that date, through¬ 
out the summer and fall, the same year they are set. 
June bearers will bear the following spring. 
CARE OF PATCH AFTER PICKING. At the end of 
the fruiting season to renew the bed for another year 
it is a good practice to mow, rake off and burn old vines. 
The mowing and burning will destroy any leaf disease 
and insects that may be in the leaves. Then go over the 
field with a riding cultivator, cutting out old plants and 
narrowing down the row to six or eight inches wide. 
Work the ground until there is a good bed of fresh dirt 
for new runner plants to set for the remainder of the 
season. Remember, it is always the new plants that pro¬ 
duce the best results the following season. A light lay¬ 
er of stable manure, if free from weed and grass seed, 
put on after th e ground freezes as a winter mulch, will 
benefit the plant and fruit production Mulching with 
straw early in November protects plants from sudden 
early drop in temperature and protects fruit bud in the 
crown. 
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