194 FLORIDA FRUITS SMALL FRUITS. 



three thousand plants a day, and do it properly, too. Al- 

 ways plant in moist, freshly-stirred ground, free from lumps 

 or trash. 



If the roots, on receipt of your plants, are found to be 

 sour, black, or moldy, and this often happens if they have 

 journeyed far, wash them in clean, lukewarm water, and 

 carefully trim off the shriveled ends ; let them lie in water 

 for a few hours. After they are set out, sprinkle a hand- 

 ful of fine bone-meal, if you have it, close around the 

 plants, water them liberally, soaking the ground, and 

 mulch heavily. 



Unless the weather be cloudy for several days, at and 

 after the time of setting out, shade must be supplied 

 palmetto leaves are excellent for this purpose placed al- 

 most horizontally so as to shelter thoroughly from the sun ; 

 in lieu of palmetto, even a handful of grass dropped on 

 the crown of the plant is better than nothing. 



Do not allow the runners to grow until after the fruit- 

 ing season is over ; if you do, the plants will be less thrifty, 

 the berries smaller, and less in quantity. But after the 

 fruit is all gathered, then let the runners run; if there 

 are any vacant spaces in the rows put down some, so the 

 gaps will be filled, and this is all that needs to be done, 

 so say some of our Florida cultivators, until the time for 

 transplanting or setting out comes round again. 



" Let the weeds grow as they will during the summer 

 season, they will shelter the strawberry plants from the 

 sun, and they will be found all right when you come to 

 cut down and weed out the trash in October." 



And that there is some truth in this statement we have 

 proved in our own garden ; plants utterly hidden from 

 May to September were found to be thrifty and green 

 when summoned from their retirement. 



Another plan, highly recommended by those who have 



