390 



impossible to follow such a practice without damaging the berries 

 more or less ami spoiling their flavour. 



PROPAGATION. 



Propagation may be effected by seed, runners, and division of the 

 plants. Seed is seldom used, and only for raising new varieties, 

 except in the ease of the Alpine section, which seldom produces 

 runners, and is sometimes increased by this method. The seed 

 should be saved from the finest berries, and must be fully ripe when 

 gathered. The berries should be squeezed by hand in water, and the 

 seeds, which are on the surface of the pulp, will, when detached from 

 the skin, sink to the bottom. After several washings, to remove as 

 much of the pulp as possible, the seeds should be strained through a 

 cloth and dried, it should be sown in the autumn or spring in light 

 rich open soil, covering it about an-eighth of an inch deep. Jt is 

 better to sow in boxes, frames, or pots so that more care can be given 

 than in the open ground. When the young plants have made four 

 leaves they should be transplanted about three inches apart into 

 small beds. The following season they will be ready for the ordinary 

 plantations. Though seedlings are but seldom raised, it is probable 

 that growers might find it to their advantage to obtain plants in this 

 w;iy occasionally. In some localities there are complaints of Straw- 

 berries failing', though formerly they flourished, and it is possible 

 that seedlings, having greater vitality, might Avith advantage take 

 the places of the older varieties, which appear to have become 

 weakened in constitution. Young plants are so freely produced by 

 runners in the case of most of the varieties that no other method of 

 propagation is needed. The best plants are those that arc iirsi 

 formed on the runners, In the absence of runners, as in the case of 

 the Alpine section, young plants are readily obtained by dividing t he- 

 old crowns. 



1 N.irinors IXSKCTS. 



Apltides. These insects are of ten troublesome to Strawberry plants, 

 attacking the leaves, as also the roots when the surface soil is 

 sufficiently open to allow them to get into the ground. As they 

 appear in large numbers and feed upon the juices of the plants, they 

 are, consequently, a serious evil. Therefore, cultivators should 

 promptly deal with this pest as soon as it makes its appearance. 

 I 1 ' or further information as to Aphides and their remedies see page 

 77, volume 1. 



Beetles. Several kinds of true Beetles, both in their larval and 

 perfect state, prey upon Strawberry plants. These insects range in 

 size, according to the species, from a quarter to three-quarters of aii 

 inch, in colour from grey to dark brown, and are provided with six legs. 

 The larva? are yellowish- white, with brown heads, and vary from 

 half-an-inch to an inch and a-half long, according to the species. 



