STRA WBERR1ES PLANTING. 



229 



in Kent, where the soil is light and more or less mixed with stones and flints, they are 

 placed 16 inches apart in rows 32 inches asunder. In the Sandwich district, where the 

 soil is deeper and the finest British Queens are grown, 36 inches is allowed between 

 the rows and 18 inches from plant to plant. The practice in the Aberdeen and Eves- 

 Lam districts is to plant 30 inches by 18 inches. In Cornwall, Alice Maud is planted 

 20 inches by 14 inches, and Sir Joseph Paxton 26 inches by 16 inches. The end 

 of September is the usual time of planting when the soil and weather are favourable, 

 otherwise the work is done in March, though in the Aberdeen district it is deferred 

 until April. The plants should be carefully lifted, well and firmly planted, and watered 

 if the weather be dry. 



Plant just level with the neck so as to cover the roots, and firm the soil well about 



Fig. 57. CHARACTERISTIC PLANTS. PBOPBB AND IMPBOPEE METHODS OF PLANTING. 



References : V, plantlet from a 3-inch pot. If, plant from reversed turf. X, plant lifted from the ground with 

 a ball of soil. Y, plant lifted without soil and properly planted. Z, plant set too deeply. A, plant not deep enough. 

 V, plant the right depth but with the roots in a bundle bad practice. C, plant with the roots doubled up in a 

 shallow excavation slovenly work, shown because it exists and is to be condemned. 



them. Plants from runners layered in pots, turves, or in the open ground and lifted 

 with a mass of roots and soil ( F, W, and X, Fig. 57), have a decided advantage over 

 those without soil. Plants with good roots but without soil should have them spread 

 out in a natural manner, the heart of the plant not being buried, while the neck is not 

 exposed to the air to become hard and dry. Correct procedure is shown in Y; improper 

 modes of planting are shown in Z, A, B, C. Where it is practicable give each plant a 

 shovelful of fresh soil say, four parts turfy loam and one of well-pulverised manure, 

 spreading the roots out carefully, and work the compost amongst them. A slight 

 depression may be formed around each plant as a receptable for water whicli would bo 

 necessary if the season should prove dry. Moist weather is the time to plant. Watering 



