PRINCIPLES OF VEGETATION, ETC. 137 



make good root, and become strong plants. In the early spring they should 

 be taken up separate, with a ball of earth, by means of a trowel, and planted a 

 proper distance fi*om each other in the bed intended for them. 



315. An American writer, Hiram W. Buckley, New York, gives the follow- 

 ing novel method for forming new strawberry-beds : — " Whenever I wish to 

 make a new strawberry-bed, I allow the old bed to run into mass. Then, at 

 any time during the autumn or early spring, I line strips about 7 inches wide 

 and 20 inches apart through the length of it, and cut them into squares. 

 These squares I take up wdth a spade, about 3 inches deep, and set them 18 

 inches apart in furrows previously made 2 feet apart in a new bed. As the 

 roots are not disturbed, they bear a full crop the first season, and this pays 

 well for the heavy labour of removing so much earth. I make no account of 

 the large number of roots required, since they spread so rapidly as to cover 

 the ground in a single season, even when runners are kept back till after 

 fruiting. The trenches made in the old bed are filled with rich earth and 

 mianure, and the bed is soon covered with plants again, when other trenches 

 may be made and filled ; thus renewing the whole bed by degrees, as occasion 

 requires." It is of so recent a date that his plan cannot have been tested in 

 this country. It seems, however, very likely to answer, and to be a saving 

 of time in the formation of new beds. Still it must be remembered that when 

 fine fruit is required, the plants should be kept single — quantity undoubtedly 

 is gained by allowing the beds to run into mass. 



316. To propagate Mistletoe.— To many persons the cultivation of the mistle- 

 toe is looked upon with as much doubt as we are told the ancient Romans looked 

 Tipon the cultivation of mushrooms. It may, however, be vei-y readily culti- 

 vated by attending to the following directions : — Make an incision in the bark 

 of an apple-tree (many other trees, as the pear, oak, whitethorn, and even 

 laurels, will answer equally well), and into this incision, in the spring of the 

 year, insert some well-ripened berries of the mistletoe, carefully tying the bark 

 over with a piece of bass, mat, or woollen yarn. This experiment often fails, 

 from the birds running away with the berries from the place whex'e they have 

 been inserted, for they are very fond of them. To prevent this, the incision 

 in the bark should be made on the underside of a hanging branch, where 

 birds are not likely to rest. 



317. Useful Hint in Transplanting. — In transplanting any tree or shrubj 

 especially evergreens, be careful to preserve the same aspect ; that is, keep 

 the same sides to the north, south, east, and west, as before. This will greatly 

 facilitate the speedy establishment of the plant in its new situation. 



D. 



