STRAWBERRIES. 1 71 



only young plants of the previous season's growth 

 should be used. If a plant has old, woody, black 

 roots, throw it away. Plants set out in April will 

 begin to blossom in May. These buds and blos- 

 soms should be picked off ruthlessly as soon as 

 they appear. Never does avarice overreach itself 

 more completely than when plants are permitted 

 to bear the same season in which they are set out. 

 The young, half-established plant is drained of its 

 vitality in producing a little imperfect fruit; yet 

 this is permitted even by farmers who would hold 

 up their hands at the idea of harnessing a colt to 

 a plough. 



The plants do not know anything about our 

 purpose in regard to them. They merely seek to 

 follow the law of Nature to propagate themselves, 

 first by seeds which, strictly speaking, are the fruit, 

 and then by runners. These slender, tendril-like 

 growths begin to appear early in summer, and if 

 left unchecked will mat the ground about the 

 parent with young plants by late autumn. If we 

 wish plants, let them grow by all means ; but if 

 fruit is our object, why should we let them grow? 

 " Because nearly every one seems to do it," would 

 be, perhaps, the most rational answer. This is a 

 mistake, for many are beginning to take just the 

 opposite course even when growing strawberries 

 by the acre. 



