284 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



FALL PLANTING. 



HE soil for strawberries should always be rich, and 

 this is especially necesaary for fall-set plants, as 

 they can not send their roots to a great distance 

 in search of food in the short time in which they 

 have to grow. Old, well decomposed stable 

 manure is excellent, and plenty of it should be 

 used. It is well to apply it after the land is 

 plowed, and then harrow it until the horses have 

 stepped on every square foot. If the bed be 

 small, the manure can be worked in with the hoe. 

 If commercial fertilizer is to be used — I always depend on it — it may be scat- 

 tered on the surface near the plants as soon as they are set. If bone dust be 

 used, it may be raked into the surface before planting. The soil should be 

 made firm before the plants are set. This will insure their bearing, and will 

 help keep them from being thrown out by the frost. If one is planting a large 

 patch, which is seldom done in the fall, it is well to roll the soil. This not only 

 mokes the bed firm and smooth, but also enables one to see just where the 

 surface is, and to set the plants at the proper depth. In planting a small bed 

 my plan is to stretch the line where the row is to be and spat it down with the 

 back of a spade. This gives a smooth surface with the impression of the line 

 for a guide. If the soil be dry, I cover the surface around the plants with a 

 mulch of some kind, and give one thorough watering. An excellent plan is to 

 cut some grass when it is short and green, and scatter it all over the plants. 

 This gives them shade just when they need it, and as the grass dries up they 

 become strong enough to do without shade. If one is using potted plants it is 

 a good way to have the beds prepared some days in advance, and the hole made 

 for each plant. The holes may be filled several times with liquid manure which 

 will soak into the soil and leave it in fine condition for the plants. In using 

 layers it is a good plan to set them temporarily in loamy soil where they can be 

 watered and shaded tor a week. Then after a good watering they can be taken 

 up with the soil adhering. These are as good as potted plants. If one wants 

 potted plants without paying heavy express charges, he can accomplish it by 

 buying layers and potting them as soon as received. They should then be 

 placed wh^re they can be watered and shaded as they need, until the roots 

 reach the spot. Three-inch pots are large enough. If the roots are too long, 

 they may be shortened. This method insures the plants against receiving any 

 check in transplanting, which alone is enough to commend it. After plants are 

 set they should be hoed so frequently that no crust can form on the surface, nor 

 any weeds grow. It is a wise precaution to give fall-set plants winter protec- 



