Do not depend upon one kind of fruit, but have a variety ripening from the earliest down to the latest of the growing season - aspargus - strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, early pears, late pears. Do not attempt too much; two acres of each will be enough to succeed well with on a moderate capital.

Fourth #1

A fourth object in mulching strawberries, is to keep the fruit clean. On light soils this is an important item. Strawberries grown upon the light soils of the prairies of the West, or upon the sand hills of Michigan, are often rendered unmarketable by the sand that is dashed upon them by heavy rains.

I might add as a fifth and collateral reason for mulching strawberries, that a good coat of mulching facilitates the picking of the fruit, and renders the work much more pleasant and cleanly.

These remarks might be extended by way of showing what is the best material for mulching, and what is the proper time for putting it on in the fall and for removing it in the spring; much might be said by way of illustrating the important collateral benefits of mulching, in giving the moisture and the gases of the atmosphere, access to the soil and to the roots of plants, etc., but I waive the consideration of these topics for the present.

Onarga, III. W. P. P.

Fourth #2

Care should be observed in starting the mower, especially a horse mower. A mower (and all other machinery having a rapid motion) should not be started too suddenly; for a sudden start is liable to break the ratchet, gears, or other parts of the machine.