SMALL FRUITS. l8l 



back on it which will furnish sufficient guide for 

 the planter, with no line in his way. Lay off all the 

 ground in this way, and we are ready to plant. 



If both sexes are to be used, plant the Stami- 

 nates in the first row and follow with two rows of 

 the Pistilates and repeat till all are planted. We 

 have found the spade to be the best tool to do this 

 with. A man goes before, walking backward, and 

 pressing the spade into the ground draws it back 

 till there is sufficient room between it and the wall 

 of earth back of it to insert the plant. The roots 

 must be spread out fan shaped, and the plant placed 

 as near as may be in a natural position. This is 

 done by an assistant, and as the spade is withdrawn, 

 the man will with his foot press the ground from 

 him and downward till it is firm about all the roots. 

 This is sometimes done by the assistant with the 

 hands. It matters not if it is done well and no 

 cavities left about the roots. Set about i foot in 

 the row. 



The plants may be carried in a shallow vessel, 

 sometimes water is kept in it but this is not neces- 

 sary, and makes the roots harder to separate. Never 

 wet the crown of the plant before setting. If they 

 are dry when received, wet the roots only, and 

 especially if the weather is very dry, clip off most 

 of the large leaves with knife or scissors before 

 planting. This may generally be done while they 

 are in the bunch. 



Strawberries should be cultivated often and the 

 ground kept not only free from weeds but in a good 



