VARIOUS SPECIES OF FRUITS 



189 



Fig. 125. Bisexual or "male" Strawberry blossoms on the right, pistillate or "female" 



on the left 



planting. As trimmed it is well to throw them into water to keep 

 them from drying. 



Should it not be possible to prepare the ground as soon as the 

 plants arrive from the nurseryman, set them after pruning in a V-shaped 

 trench, not in bundles but separated. It is a good thing to fill the 

 trench with water before placing the plants in it because they will 

 thus come in close contact with the soil and be moist. Fill in with 

 fine earth and firm the soil against the roots with the feet. Several 

 rows may be placed close together about six inches between them. 

 If the soil becomes dry don't sprinkle it but drench it so thoroughly 

 that it will be soaking wet at least a foot deep. Plants may be kept 

 in this way six or eight weeks. 



Before digging them up for transplanting be sure that the ground 

 in both the little bed and the garden area is moist so that the plants 



will suffer the least pos- 

 sible check. Advantages 

 of buying plants early and 

 treating them in this way 

 are that one stands a bet- 

 ter chance of getting what 

 he wants, he has them 

 just when he is ready to 

 plant, does not have to 

 hustle unduly the plants 

 being safe, he can spray 

 them very quickly, cheaply 

 and effectively, he can 

 delay planting until the 

 ground is in just the con- 

 dition he wants it and 

 Fig. 126. A prolific Strawberry plant can reduce weed trouble 



