THE STRAWBERRY. 321 



without stepping on the beds, which is a consideration of 

 some importance. Next to this arrangement I would 

 recommend rows two feet apart, with the plants twelve 

 to eighteen inches apart in the rows (fig. 159). In this 

 case the space between /*m * * * am* 

 the rows must be used as 5 ^ 



a path in gathering the ., 

 fruit and performing the ! ! 



details of culture. 



d T, TIT 9I8IH* * HSU!* 



Small garden-beds may Fig m _ DIAGRAM OF FIELD . 

 be made at any time when PLANTING. 



the ground is not frozen. The ground should be raked off 

 smooth and even, and the beds or plots and intervening 

 walks marked by the line and a measure. When this is 

 done, then stretch the line where it is intended to put a 

 row of plants, mark off the place for each plant by a 

 measure, and then with a dibble, such as that described on 

 page 147, set the plants, pressing the earth firmly around 

 each with the hand. When the rows are close the plants 

 should be put in quincunx order. This increases the 

 space around each plant. 



In a dry time the plants should be well watered before 

 they are taken up, and the ground well watered before 

 they are planted ; then they must be protected from the 

 hot mid-day sun until they have taken root. 



In planting spread out the roots and cover them with 

 soil, but avoid covering the crown with earth. 



The plants should invariably be of one season's growth, 

 from the seed or runner, and well rooted. Where only a 

 few plants are needed, those nearest the parent plant 

 should be selected, as they possess a greater degree of vigor. 



They should always be taken up in a moist time if pos- 

 sible, and before planting the roots should be dressed by 

 cutting off the extremities, and the older, imperfect, or 

 bruised foliage should also be pruned off; these operations 

 facilitate the process of re-rooting. We find it very 

 14* 



