226 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



and blossoms at the same time. The wind and 

 insect visitors scatter the vitalizing dust, and a 

 fine crop results. Experiments have found out 

 what varieties are best suited to be planted to- 

 gether. Before a bed is set out, a practical grower 

 in the neighborhood should be consulted, and his 

 advice followed. 



The way to get the best plants, and the quickest 

 crop from them, is to sink little pots of rich earth 

 under the best rooting joints of the runners, 

 choosing the parent plants for their vigor and the 

 quality of their berries. If started in July, a mass 

 of roots will fill each pot before the end of August. 

 These independent plants may be set out in the 

 prepared bed in September, without disturbing 

 the roots. By the time the threat of frosty 

 weather requires that they be covered with a pro- 

 tecting mulch they will be well-grown, and will set 

 lusty fruit-buds in the coming spring. Some 

 amateurs tear up the bed after this first crop is 

 picked. Others think the second crop the best 

 from pot-grown, fall-set plants. 



PINEAPPLES 



Once an irate commission merchant in a north- 

 ern city wrote a letter to a pineapple grower in 



