The single narrow row of plants is
more easily protected against winter's frosts. Light, strawy
manure from the horse-stable serves well for this purpose; but it
should be light and free from heat. I have seen beds destroyed by
too heavy a covering of chunky, rank manure. It is not our purpose
to keep the beds and plants from freezing, but from alternately
freezing and thawing. If snow fell on the bed in December and
lasted till April, no other protection would be needed. Nature in
this latitude has no sympathy for the careless man. During the
winter of 1885, in January, and again in February and March, the
ground was bare, unprotected plants were badly frozen, and in many
instances lifted partly out of the ground by midday thawing and
night freezing. The only safe course is to cover the rows
thoroughly, but not heavily, early in December. If then light
stable-manure is not at hand, leaves, old bean-vines, or any dry
refuse from the garden not containing injurious seeds will answer.
Do not employ asparagus-tops, which contain seed. Of course we
want this vegetable, but not in the strawberry bed. Like some
persons out of their proper sphere, asparagus may easily become a
nuisance; and it will dispossess other growths of their rights and
places as serenely as a Knight of Labor.
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