Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-03-28

pulling is easiest and quickest after the
plants are we'll rooted. 10 the mex
perienced or the untoughened it is rather
back breaking work; but no matter
persevere. Your reward will be mag
ni6cent hills that broad-brimmed straw
hat can hardly cover, and in fruit that
will make glad your heart. After the
first year the nuisance of runners will
not be as bad, though always bad enough.
MULCHING.
Mulching will do much to keep down
weeds, and to heavy soils will be of great
service in cold winters, as we'll as in dry
spring, and sometimes also during the
season of fruit, to keep it from being
sanded or soiled during heavy showers.
The shade it gives the soil is also bene-
fetal. But, on the other hand, it has
disadvantages. 1t does not prevent run
ners from growing, and it increases the
work of their removal. 1t delays the
crop several days behind unmulched
plots, though the berries, particularly
the later ones, will be larger and finer
than in the other case. During mild
winters, when light or sandy soil is
not frozen, the mulch harbors field-mice,
which, protected by it, have runs from
hill to hill, burrow under the plants, and
eat off the roots Under such circum-
stances it is real damage. Besides, if
applied SO thickly as to smother weeds
all the season, the usual cost is heavy.
Salt hay makes the best mulch, as it
will not blow off readily, is not difficult
to spread, and will last three years; but
at distance from salt meadows it costs
too much to make it profitable. When a
mulch is not applied. the spring treat
ment should consist in clean, thorough
culture, but about as shallow as possible.
Deep tillage then will reduce the chances
for really heavy crop, though the
plants will be fine.
TIME TO PLANT.
The strawberry can be planted sue
cessfully at almost any time when the
earth is not frozen. But, all things con-
sidered, there is probably no better time
than in the early spring. The crop will
be obtained year afterwards. Planted
in August, a few fine berries may be
expected the next spring.
AS to varieties, one may be guided by
what succeeds in his neig hborhood. In
this respect. he can safely disregard
what nurserymen at distance may say
If no strawberries are grown near him.
then he can wisely risk his first venture
on the old, reliable, "sour," prolific
much-abused, yet almost omnipresent
Wilson's Albany" 1t has fought g
good fight, and is yet long way from
losing the field. For our own eating
give US the Wilson" with plenty O
sugar; its acidity is one of its highes
recommendations for the season of tn,
year when there is natural craving fo
acid fruits.-O. 7. Observer.
In order that farmer may know tn,
number of acres each of his fields con
tain he should first provide himself will
a straight pole rod in length ant
notched into yards. Then if the sides 0
the field about to be measured are paral
lell, multiply its length in rods by it
breadth in rods, and divide by 100, an
the quotient will be the number of acre
in the field But if the field is triangu
: lar in shape, multiply the longest sid
in rods by the greatest width in rods
and divide half the product by 100. L
however, the sides of the field are irres
ular, lay it off in two or more triangIe'
as may be most convenient, find tn
number of acres in each of such tria1
" giles, and add the products togethe
= this will give the number of acres in tt
Il whole field.
IL --s-S-
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