THE SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 357 



planting, clip off all leaves buL one (or two at most), the youngest; make the 

 holes along the line with a spade, placing the back of the spade to the line, 

 thrusting its full length perpendicularly into the ground, and with a sidewise 

 motion remove the earth, leaving it close at hand for use in setting the plant. 

 This leaves a perpendicular cut exactly on the line. Spread out the roots fan- 

 shaped, and place them against this cut so that the roots will be straight (not 

 doubled up), and the crowns of the plants, or upper buds, on a level with the 

 general surface of the ground. I emphasize this point because it is the most 

 important one in the whole operation; for if too deep a long or hard rain will 

 cover the crowns and cause them to rot; and if planted too high an ensuing 

 drouth will dry them to death. Draw the fresh earth against the roots and 

 press it iirmly by a moderate blow with the tist, then fill the hole nearly full of 

 fine earth, and follow by filling entirely with water or a weak liquid manure. 

 When the water has disappeared level up around the plant with loose fine earth, 

 leaving the* surface loose. Thus planted, nine out of every ten plants will grow. 

 No shading is needed if the leaves are removed. I have never had better suc- 

 cess than when not a leaf was left on the plants when set out, as the leaves 

 rapidly evaporate the sap from the plants, and in dry, hot weather often cause 

 death before root-growth has commenced. 



COMPELLING STRAWBERRIES TO FRUIT. 



The following caught our eye when looking over a copy of the Colorado 

 Farmer : 



Having heard or read, that for every runner that was cut off a fruit stem 

 would be formed on the old stool, and that as many berries and of large size 

 would be obtained from hills or stools, than when allowed to run over the bed, 

 we thoroughly tested the matter, and. became satisfied that it would hold good. 

 It will be found that varieties like the Crescent that are very profuse in run- 

 ners, will '"'stool" out wonderfully when the runners are kept off, and of 

 course, the more they "stool out" the more fruit stems and the greater the 

 crop. Too many suppose that by allowing a plant to run and getting ten, 

 twenty, or thirty plants formed around it, thereby they get a proportionally 

 larger crop, forgetting that the strength that is given to runners would go to 

 the old plant if not allowed to run, and there is such a thing as covering too 

 much of the space. Plant your Crescents in the garden and keep off all run- 

 ners, and you will be astonished at the crop of fruit you will get. 



THE WILSON STRAWBERRY. 



A fruit portfolio would look lonesome without something about the much 

 abused Wilson, so we quote this item from our venerable friend, S. B. Peck, of 

 Muskegon : 



From being hailed on its advent and during the first few years of its dissem- 

 ination as a great boon, the Wilson strawberry, after heading the list and lead- 

 ing the market for years, has at last become a reproach ; and it has even been 

 suggested to send missionaries to those places where there are no better sorts. 

 And why? Simply because we can by extra exertions raise kinds that are 

 bigger and sweeter, and still it is quite doubtful whether any of those later, 



