230 Strawberry-Growing 



roots. On heavy or stony soil a flat-tined spading fork can 

 be used to advantage ; on light soils, a five-tined manure 

 fork. Some nurserymen use a digger drawn by four 

 horses. It has a blade that slices the soil beneath the 

 plants and loosens it, so that the plants are easily raked 

 together by the men who follow the digger. A potato 

 hook is used occasionally, but is likely to tear the roots. 

 The diggers should work toward the plants, throwing the 

 forks-full behind them. The soil should be shaken off the 

 roots at once and the plants tied into bunches in the field, 

 or carried to a cool place to be counted and bunched. 

 Put them in tight woven baskets or wet burlap sacks to 

 protect them from wind and sun ; this is especially neces- 

 sary in warm weather. The price paid by nurserymen for 

 hand digging, counting and bunching is twenty-five cents 

 for 1000 plants. Fifteen cents a thousand is paid for 

 counting and bunching. Twenty-six plants are put in a 

 bunch, one extra for good count. All runners and dead 

 or diseased leaves are pulled off. 



A few plants that are to be shipped by mail are prepared 

 by removing all leaves but the smaller ones in the center. 

 The roots are straightened out and laid on a very thin 

 layer of damp sphagnum moss, covered with more moss, 

 and so on, plants and moss alternating. The bundle is 

 rolled in oiled paper, a piece of cardboard bound around 

 it to protect the crowns, and covered with strong manila 

 paper ; but the leaves should be left exposed (Plate XX). 

 When securely tied, this package will carry plants safely 

 for five hundred miles. 



Plants that are shipped by freight or express are packed 

 in boxes with slats on the sides and tops. Old thirty- 

 two quart berry crates are commonly used. The crate 

 is lined with oiled paper and damp moss and the plants 



