52 SMALL FKUIT CULTUKIST. 



the grower's soil or location than any that could be pro- 

 duced elsewhere. 



PROPAGATION BY RUNNERS. 



The varieties mainly cultivated in this country are 

 propagated from the runners. The first produced are 

 usually the strongest and best for early planting, but 

 those that are formed later in the season are equally as good 

 when they arrive at the same age or size. A few theorists 

 have maintained that the first plants formed near the 

 parent stool were the only ones that should be used, and 

 that they were far superior to the others, and would al- 

 ways be more prolific. This assertion is not supported by 

 facts ; consequently is not worthy of a moment's thought. 

 To insure the rooting of runners, the surface of the soil 

 should be kept loose and open, and if the weather is very 

 dry at the time they are forming, it is well to go over the 

 beds and cover the new roots as they are produced. 

 When only a few very large and strong plants are wanted, 

 it is well to pinch off the runner just beyond the first 

 plant, that this may become strong and vigorous. 



A good plan to insure the safe removal of runners after 

 they are rooted, is to sink a pot filled with soil under each 

 joint of the runner and let the roots strike into it. In 

 two or three weeks the pot may be lifted, and the runner 

 separated from the parent plant. This is a tedious and 

 expensive mode and seldom necessary. 



It often occurs when taking up plants in the fall that 

 many of the small ones are not well rooted, and, if the 

 variety is scarce and valuable, they may be worth saving. 

 If so, cut off the runner close to the plant, and then dib- 

 ble them close together either in the open ground or in a 

 frame, shade them, and give plenty of water until they are 

 rooted. If they do not produce sufficient roots before 

 cold weather, then protect them, and they will usually 

 form roots before wanted for planting in the spring. 



