The Strawberry jBook. 17 



not likely that the surface of the soil will freeze hard again. 

 Plants set at this time not only get settled, but begin to 

 grow by the first of May, soon put out runners, and by the 

 first of September present the well-ripened stocky appear- 

 ance that gives promise of an abundant yield. 



These remarks should not discourage any one from 

 planting in the fall if he must plant at that time or not at 

 all, or if he has new varieties to set, from which he wishes 

 an immediate return. Plants that have been carefully 

 layered in pots may be transplanted at almost any time in 

 the fall, and will give a moderate crop the next year. 



I planted on the 2ist of September, 1868, a hundred 

 vines of the President Wilder, layered in pots, and got a 

 very decent crop the following season. 



I have planted in August ordinary vines of the Agricul- 

 turist and Brooklyn Scarlet, and had moderate success, 

 but almost entirely failed with the Triomphe de Gand set 

 a little later. The vines of the latter kind lived and grew 

 well, but showed no fruit. 



The time being fixed upon, the soil prepared, and the 

 vines made ready, shortening their roots one third with a 

 clean cut, planting is a comparatively simple affair. A 

 strong line should be stretched across the field, the plants 

 (which should be kept in a basket, well protected by wet 

 moss) dropped at regular intervals, and set out by two or 

 three hands distributed along the line. They should all 

 work in the same direction, and a very little practice will 

 show who sets fastest, and, consequently, at what intervals 

 they must be placed. While they are planting, another 

 hand (generally the boy who has dropped the plants for 

 the first row) stretches a second line at the proper distance, 

 and drops plants along it, so that the planters need not be 

 delayed a moment. If the soil is as it should be, viz., well 

 worked, fine, and free from stones, the planters will not 

 need any trowel, but will make a little excavation with 

 the fingers, and set the plant with the left hand, giving 



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