CHAPTER V 



TRAINING THE PLANT 



Fruit-growers do not agree on the best method of 

 shaping the top of a fruit-tree, so as to space its bearing 

 surface most effectively. There is even less unanimity 

 on the training of the strawberry plant. The object in 

 this case is to determine the most suitable distance between 

 different plants, rather than to distribute different parts 

 of the same plant; but the problem is essentially the 

 same — to space the fruit-bearing surface so as to secure 

 the largest return from the land occupied. The strawberry 

 adapts itself to such diverse climates and cultural ideals 

 that uniformity of practice in training cannot be expected. 



METHODS OF TRAINING DEFINED 



There has been lack of definiteness in referring to the 

 different methods of training. Several have been known 

 by more than one name. 



Hill, or stool. 



In hill training, the plants are not allowed to set any 

 runners ; these are cut or pulled off as they appear. Hill 

 plants become very large and have many crowns. This 

 is due to the branching of the main stem from adventitious 

 buds; it is the common result of heavy pruning with 

 nearly all kinds of plants. Sometimes two rows of hill 



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