6 NAT. ORDER. SENTICO.SiE. 



rated by alleys, usually about two feet wide, to allow of weeding, 

 watering the plants and gathering the fruit. 



The strongest plants are always chosen for transplanting, and 

 in order to obtain them as strong as possible, a shallow trench is 

 made between the rows of old plants, and filled with a rich com- 

 post ; on this the first runners are laid and fastened down by little 

 hooks. The runners quickly take root in this compost, and grow 

 strongly. To encourage them still more they should be watered 

 with the mother plants especially in dry weather. When the sea- 

 son arrives for transplanting, the young j^lants rise with fine roots, 

 and generally strong enough to promise a good crop in the follow- 

 ing year. 



The beds are never dug between the plants, but only kept 

 clear of runners and weeds by the hoe. The alleys are dug every 

 winter, and a small portion of the fresh soil from them are thrown 

 over the beds as a top dressing. It is usual to lay straw, or some 

 kind of clean loose litter round the plants before the fruit begins to 

 ripen, to save them from being dashed with earth by rain or when 

 watered. When young plants are not wanted, the bearing ones 

 should be kept free from runners, otherwise they will rob the swell- 

 ing fruit. 



This plan of keeping the mother plant distinct and separate is 

 most suitable for the larger sorts ; the alpines, and sometimes the 

 hautbois are planted individually at first, but afterwards allowed to 

 run all over and occupy the whole surface, in which state these 

 kinds will, in somewhat shady situations, do well, and continue pro- 

 ductive for several years. Some cultivators, instead of beds, plant 

 the large sorts in open order, say two feet apart every way on well 

 prepared ground, knowing that the more space each plant is allow- 

 ed the stronger it will grow and flower, and bear fruit in greater 

 numbers, and of greater size. Besides this, the side branches of the 

 mother plant (not the runners) have room to extend and yield fruit 

 in as great quantities as the principal crown. To understand this 



