I08 MODERN STRAWBERRY GROWING 



When the fruit is set, all but six or eight 

 of the very best fruits should be picked off. 

 This will result in greatly increased size of 

 the remaining berries, as the full strength or 

 life of the plant is given to produce these 

 few. At this time it is a good practice to 

 give the plants an application of liquid man- 

 ure, made by diluting well-rotted cow manure 

 with water. At first the solution must be 

 weak, and not applied very often, one dose in 

 four or five days being enough, increasing the 

 number of applications as the size of the 

 fruit progresses. Also slightly increase the 

 strength of the liquid. 



At ripening time it is important to be 

 very careful in applying this, ofttimes it is 

 better to use clear water than to discolour 

 the fruit with the former watering. 



As the fruit swells and hangs so that it 

 can touch either the soil, pot, or wood, it is 

 often best to give it some support in order 

 that the fruit may be ripened all over. 

 Small meshed window screening, cut so that 

 it can hold up the fruit, is very good. Pieces 

 of hay wire bent so that the fruit will be held 

 away from the pot are also used. 



The fruit should be picked as explained 



