J. H. Shivers Plant Farms, Allen, Maryland 5 

MULCHING: Before severe weather starts the plants should be 
covered with 1 to 8 inches of some good mulching material such as 
hay, straw or pine needles. As spring growth starts this mulch where 
too thick should be pulled open and arranged under the plant. Plants 
for the most part are usually able to push through thinner mulches, 
unless it packs. This mulch serves to support the fruit and avoids rot 
and grit, making your berries cleaner and firmer to harvest. 
MARKETING: The ultimate value of a crop of berries is deter- 
mined by the selling price. Well grown fruit should receive the great- 
est care in harvesting, packing and shipping, so that it reaches the 
consumer in as good condition as possible. There is usually an over- 
supply of poor fruit, but very rarely a market is glutted with good 
fruit, well displayed. Intelligent grading pays. A dishonest pack 
hurts the shipper most: Some form of ventilated crate should be used 
for best results in transit. 
WHAT TO DO WHEN THE PLANTS ARRIVE 
Set plants on arrival if possible. It will help if roots of 
the plants can be dipped in water and allowed to “plump up” 
for sometime before setting, perhaps over night. At any 
rate have them thoroughly moistened when planting. If 
anything prevents immediate planting and the weather is 
cool, the top of the crate should be taken off and the plants 
loosened in the crate, still keeping the roots covered with 
the packing material. Placed where it is cool, plants will 
keep like this two or three days. If weather too warm to 
keep plants, or to cold to set them out they should be heel- 
ed in some shaded or protected place. Dig a V-shaped trench, 
open the bundles, spread them out in thin layers with buds 
just even with the surface of the ground and firm the soil 
back against the roots of the plants. If necessary, several 
layers of plants can be heeled in the same place with one or 
two inches of soil between each layer. Wet the soil and 
roots of plants thoroughly when heeling is done. 
O 
You will find order for Strawberry plants. Ship as soon as you 
get this letter if possible. The plants I got from you last year were 
fine. I thought when the plants arrived and saw some dark roots, 
that they were bad or old plants. I have learned that some soils 
make dark roots. I planted them and I had as nice a bed of berries as 
there were in this neighborhood. I was well pleased with the plants. 
March 24, 1942. Wm. Haag Jefferson Co., Ky, 
