34 Strawberry Culture 



Potted Plants 



Potted strawberry plants have been in use about forty years, 

 and are in great favor with most amateur growers. They are 

 produced during the summer months by allowing runners to root 

 in small pots sunk in the soil near to the plants from which 

 runners are to be taken. If the weather is favorable the little 

 pots will be well filled with roots in two weeks, when they are 

 to be placed close together in frames where they can be watered 

 when necessary. After remaining in the frame a few days they 

 are in good condition to be planted where they are to fruit. In 

 planting them they are to be knocked out of the pots and pressed 

 firmly in the ground, the crowns level with the surface. It is 

 best to have the earth in the pot and that in the bed of about 

 the same degree of dampness. Potted plants are set with almost 

 no risk, even by inexperienced persons, and they should scarcely 

 cease growing. The earlier they are planted, all other things 

 being equal, the more they will bear the following season. 



Another excellent method of producing potted plants is to 

 take young runners with roots from one to three inches in length 

 pot them in two-inch pots and sink them in a frame where they 

 may be shaded and watered for two or three weeks. For home 

 use equally good results may be obtained by cutting thick, tough 

 sod into three inch squares, and sinking them, grass side down, 

 and allowing a runner to root in the center of each piece. Soiled 

 berry baskets may be filled with rich soil and used in the same 

 way. While potted plants are very satisfactory to use, it must 

 be remembered that they are more costly than common layers. 

 It is some trouble to pot them, to care for them until sold and to 

 pack them for transportation. The express charges too, are 

 somewhat higher. If left in the pots a long time they become 

 pot-bound and are not so good. They are mostly used in July, 

 August and September. 



