Small and Bush Fruits: Strawberries 167 



No crocks need be used in these for drainage purposes, and any ordinary 

 good soil will do for filling the pots, pressing it down firmly, but not 

 making it hard. 



A single layer should be placed in each pot, and may be kept from 

 shifting by placing a stone on it, or by pegging it down with a cheap 

 hairpin (100 for Id.) The method adopted by the writer is to pass a 

 piece of raffia about 3 in. long round the runner stem just behind the 

 crown, give it a twist, and press the ends into the soil with a blunt 

 dibber. It is quickly done, and long before the raffia decays the runner 

 will be well rooted and fit to sever from the parent plant. Only one 

 layer should be made from each runner; those growing beyond should 

 be pinched off unless stock is very short, when two layers from each 

 runner may be taken. 



The runners should be kept well supplied with water, and at the 

 end of a month or so they will be well rooted and ready for moving 

 into fruiting pots. These should be 32's (6 in.), as smaller ones do not 

 give satisfactory returns, and entail more labour in watering. The pots 

 should be clean and well drained, with a layer of crocks over a stopper 

 in the bottom. The soil should consist of 3 parts of good rather light 

 loam, and 1 part of well-rotted manure, such as may be obtained from 

 an old mushroom bed. Add a sprinkling of soot, and mix the whole 

 thoroughly a few days before using. The compost should be protected 

 from rain, as it is very injurious to pot the plants into wet, sticky soil. 



In potting, the crown of the plant should be kept well up, and not 

 buried lower than the surface, and the soil should be made very firm 

 round the roots with a good ramming stick, leaving, of course, sufficient 

 space on top for watering. 



After potting, the plants should stand on a good hard bottom in an 

 open sunny situation, and should not be crowded close together. Atten- 

 tion must be given to suppressing weeds and runners, thus allowing each 

 plant to concentrate its energies in making good crowns. 



Water must be given in abundance, and when the pots are becoming 

 full of roots weak manure water may be given with great advantage. 

 The drainings from the stable, well diluted, are as good as, if not better 

 than, any artificial manures, and the cost is much less. 



On the evenings of hot days, a good syringing from the hose will 

 be found very beneficial, and will greatly help to keep down Red Spider, 

 which is the worst enemy of the Strawberry. 



Before severe frost sets in, the pots should be plunged in ashes, or some 

 litter should be put between them, to prevent them from being cracked by 

 frost. It used to be thought necessary to put the plants in cold frames, or 

 make them into stacks with ashes between the pots; but this is quite 

 unnecessary labour. 



Unless for a special object very early forcing is not very profitable. 

 Although prices may be high there is only a limited demand for the fruit, 

 and the plants will not bear such heavy crops as they would later on. The 



