Strawberries. 331 



of embryo leaves ; those without this centre are almost sure to 

 be blind and should be discarded. Always layer enough plants 

 in excess of the actual requirements to allow for losses and for 

 rejecting poor plants. Having plunged the pot and selected 

 the runner cut off the continuation of the stalk or " string " 

 about half an inch beyond the tiny plant, then fix this on the soil 

 in the middle of the pot. The fixing may be done in a variety of 

 ways ; in many places a lump of earth or a small stone placed 

 on the string is considered sufficient, whilst in others forked 

 twigs or bits of bent wire are employed ; common hairpins are 

 as cheap and convenient for the purpose as anything that can 

 be used. Be sure that the soil is fairly firm in the pot and the 

 runner pressed down upon it and fastened securely. The soil 

 in the pots must be kept moist by watering daily, and as the 

 plants grow and the pots fill with roots this attention will be 

 required twice daily, especially if the weather is very hot, as it 

 usually is in July and August. 



When the runners are allowed to root J in the ground the 

 surface should first be well hoed and then covered with lin. of 

 old hot-bed manure, finely sifted, and the whole thoroughly 

 watered. The same care and attention in selecting, pegging 

 down, and watering will be required in this case as when pots 

 are used, but watering will not need doing so frequently. 



Early in August the runners should be ready for placing in 

 the fruiting pots (32's), whether layered in small pots or rooted 

 in the ground. In the latter case the plants must first be well 

 watered and then lifted with a good ball of earth to each, only 

 lifting so many at a time as can be potted immediately. Each 

 pot must be provided with plenty of drainage material, care- 

 fully arranged so that water can pass away freely, as nothing 

 is more harmful to the plants or more likely to cause the whole 

 operation to be more or less of a failure than the presence of 

 stagnant water, which causes the soil to become soddened and 

 sour. A layer of the roughest pieces of soil should be put over 

 the crocks, and then the pot should be partially filled, leaving 

 enough space so that when the plant from the 60's pot or that 

 with a ball of earth is placed inside, the collar of the plant will 

 be about lin. below the rim of the large pot, the crocks in the 

 small pot having been first removed. Fill round gradually 



