24 PROFITABLE FRUIT-GROWING. 



runners much sooner and stronger than can be 

 obtained from old plants partially exhausted by 

 fruiting. The earliest plants are established by 

 pegging the runners into small pots of rich soil, or 

 in newly pared turf (containing no couch), cut into 

 three-inch squares and placed close together, grass 

 downwards, as shown in fig. 4, below. The 

 latter plan is within the means of many cottagers 

 and allotment-holders, and if the turves are kept 

 moist and planted in good ground in August, some 



Fig. 4. RAISING STRAWBERRIES. 



of the plants may bear a pound of fruit the first 

 year. Simpler methods have, however, usually to 

 be resorted to. Stir the earth round the plants, 

 press down the plantlets into it with pegs or flat 

 stones, and, with regular moisture, roots quickly 

 form and plants are ready for removal during the 

 month named ; these, if carefully planted in good 

 ground and duly watered, occasionally with soap- 

 suds, will bear fine fruit the following June. 



It is necessary to refer to still another plan, riot 



