430 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



has water in it. If the plants have been received by mail they are 

 invigorated by soaking in water a few hours before planting. 



In setting the plants, scoop out a little excavation with the hand 

 or a trowel, spread the roots well, cover with a fine soil, being 

 sure that the crown of the plant shall not be below the surface 

 when the soil is leveled. Too many strawberry plants are buried, 

 not planted. Some plant very rapidly by using a dibble to make a 

 hole, into which the roots are dropped and soil pressed around them 

 by using the dibble alongside; others set the plants on the side of 

 the furrow, trusting to the next furrow to complete the covering. 

 Nearly all ways succeed if the plant is not set too deeply and the 

 ground is moist at planting and not allowed to dry out afterwards 

 providing good, strong plants are used. In buying plants it is 

 often poor economy to buy the cheapest. 



Staminate and Pistillate. In associating varieties be sure the 

 pistillate varieties are not set by themselves. Some sorts have per- 

 fect flowers and are self- fertilizing ; others have only the pistillate 

 element in the bloom and must have the staminate adjacent in an- 

 other variety. Several varieties largely grown in California have 

 perfect flowers, though some pistillate sorts have been locally ap- 

 proved. This matter should be looked into before planting a variety. 

 Pistillate varieties should have staminate kinds in every fourth row. 



Cane of the Strawberry Plantation. Herein lies the secret of 

 success with the strawberry. Neglect has led to disappointment 

 and condemnation of the strawberry, where intelligent care would 

 have rendered it a constant delight. The chief elements of proper 

 care may be thus enumerated: 



Retention of moisture very near the surface by careful, shallow 

 cultivation or by mulching, persistent destruction of weeds, and 

 compensation for summer evaporation by frequent irrigation. The 

 plants during the bearing season should never be allowed to show 

 any leaf-shriveling from drouth. Frequency of irrigation depends 

 upon local conditions. Irrigation at intervals of four to ten days, 

 according to the soil, are the outlines of prevailing practice. 



Constantly remove runners from all plants except those it is 

 desired to multiply to furnish new plants or to fill the rows. Pinch- 

 ing of runners should always accompany picking or hoeing of weeds, 

 and on the garden bed there can be no excuse for neglect in this 

 respect. The young plants should be faithfully freed from runners 

 to strengthen them up for bearing. 



Though, as already stated, strawberries may in some locations 

 be had all winter, it is better practice, as a general rule, to lay the 

 plants away for a rest. The market season in the regions sup- 

 plying the San Francisco market extends from April to December, 

 and fruit is continuously shipped during that period. At the ap- 

 proach of winter in the last-named month, it is usual to go over 

 the beds with a sickle, cutting off the old crops of leaves close to 

 the root crown, carefully cleaning up the plantation for the heavy 

 rams. In most cases it will be a great advantage then to cover 



