60 NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 



plants in December, or early in January, and planted in 

 nursery beds in a shady situation, until they form strong, 

 well-rooted plants ; this should be in March or April. They 

 should then be carefully lifted with a trowel (taking care to 

 saturate the bed with water the previous evening), and 

 planted in their permanent quarters. This is a far better 

 .system than trusting to runners rooting in the rows. Before 

 planting, the trenched ground should be tramped as firm as 

 possible, otherwise the young plants will run too much to leaf. 

 This is an important point in successful strawberry culture, 

 and should not be neglected. Plant in rows two feet apart, 

 and eighteen inches plant from plant in the rows, press the 

 soil firmly round each plant, and give a good soaking of 

 water, which must be continued a couple of times a week in 

 the event of continued dry weather. A plantation made in 

 this way will bear a moderate crop the following season. 



The plants must be cleared of all runners as they 

 appear. This will concentrate the energies of the plant in 

 developing strong, fruity crowns for the following season. 

 Another system in strawberry culture is to allow the runners 

 to grow, but to prevent them from rooting, by simply pass- 

 ing a dutch hoe along the rows under the runners, and 

 lifting them up. Unless constant attention be paid to 

 cutting the runners, two or three will grow for every one 

 which has been cut, and the energies of the plant will be 

 more heavily taxed. It is a common practice in the Old 

 Country to spread clean drawn straw along the rows of 

 strawberries, under the leaves, just before fruiting com- 

 mences. Grass mowings from the lawn would answer 

 equally well. This serves the double purpose of keeping 

 the fruit perfectly clean and of keeping the soil shaded from 

 the sun. Strawberries are very impatient of drought and 

 will not produce freely without plenty of moisture, especially 

 when the fruit is forming afterwards much moisture is 

 detrimental to the flavour of the fruit. Watering in this 

 country is not often necessary ; but, when required, it should 

 consist of a thorough soaking or irrigation if possible. In 

 May, the beds should be cleared of all stray runners and 

 withered leaves ; but on no account should green leaves be 

 removed, as their function is to mature the crowns for next 

 year's crop. 



