Forcing Strawberries. 



249 



plunged to receive the runner and the fruiting pot; but it was soon 

 found that with care in handUng through the summer, one shift 

 from the two-inch pot direct into the six-inch fruiting pot gave as 

 good results as more frequent shifting. This saves the labor of at 

 least two shifts, and allows root growth to continue uninterruptedly. 



Rooting the Runners and Handling the Plants. 



The practice now is to plunge two inch-pots filled with rich soil 

 along rows of virgin plants, i. e., runners that were set early the same 

 season which have never borne a crbp of fruit. Then the first and 

 strongest runners from these plants are led over the pots and as soon 

 as they are well rooted and established in the pots they are cut off 

 from the parent plant, 

 the pots lifted and 

 taken to a convenient 

 place where the plants 

 are at once shifted into 

 the fruiting pots. 



The Soil— At this 

 final potting, a soil is 

 used containing a large 

 proportion of sandy 

 fibrous loam. If not 

 of light texture, sand 

 should be added in the 

 proportion of one to 

 four. To this mixture 

 is added a four-inch 

 potful of dissolved rock 

 or ground bone and a 

 three-inch potful of 

 nmriate of potash to 

 every four bushels of 

 soil. Good drainage and firm potting are absolutely essential, and the 

 latter is secured by using a potting stick to pack the soil in each pot. 



Treatmejit in the Cold Frame — After potting, the plants should be 

 plunged to the rim in coal cinders or other cool material, and if pro- 

 tected by a frame will need less attention in watering than if unpro- 

 tected. After plunging, water thoroughly once, then hold water 

 from the pots as much as possible without allowing the soil to become 

 entirely dry — until roots have well started from the first ball of roots 

 — then water as needed until the pots have filled with roots. After 



Fig. 4. — Illustrating a strong plant vnth good crovm, 

 ready for forcing. 



