1 8 The Strawberry Book. 



the roots equal distribution, while the right is strowing the 

 earth around them. The finish is given by pressing the 

 soil firmly round the young plant, the thumbs and fore- 

 fingers of both hands steadying it at the same time. A 

 vast number of plants perish every year because, in setting, 

 the earth is not drawn up around them and then forcibly 

 pressed down around the crown of the vine. A certain 

 knack gained only by practice is required to do this 

 work well ; but an experienced planter will set vines in 

 favorable soil at a marvellous rate, and yet make them all 

 live. If it be necessary to use a trowel, the progress is of 

 course slower. 



When the planting is done very late, say during the first 

 week in June, and the weather is hot, certain precautions 

 must be used to insure success. The planting should be post- 

 poned till about four P. M., and then every minute of the 

 time improved until dark. The plants should be brought 

 to the field in a bucket of water, and not exposed to the 

 sun and wind a moment more than is necessary. The 

 holes should be made beforehand along the line, and a 

 man should go ahead of the planters with a water-pot and 

 fill each hole with water. Plants set thus have all night 

 to recover in, an abundant supply of moisture about their 

 roots, and will live and do well, when without these pre- 

 cautions they would certainly perish. 



The strawberry grower will of course select a cloudy or 

 rainy day for planting when he can. The vines once set, 

 a day or two settles the question of their living or dying. 



