In principle I
would carry out the first system, and give each plant space in
which to grow upon its own root as large as it naturally would in
a light soil, and I would have a sufficient number of plants to
supply the deficiency in growth. On good, loamy soil, the foliage
of single lines of plants, three feet apart, will grow so large as
to touch across the spaces; but this could scarcely be expected on
light soil unless irrigation were combined with great fertility.
Nevertheless, a bed with plants standing not too thickly upon it
will give an abundance of superb fruit.
Strawberries grown in beds may not require so much spring mulching
to keep the fruit clean, but should carefully receive all that is
needed. Winter protection also is not so indispensable as on
heavier soils, but it always well repays. A thick bed of plants
should never be protected by any kind of litter which would leave
seeds of various kinds, for under this system of culture weeds
must be taken out by hand; and this is always slow, back-aching
work.
When plants are grown in beds it does not pay to continue them
after fruiting the third year. For instance, they are set out in
spring, and during the first season they are permitted to make a
limited number of runners, and prepare to fruit the following
year.
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