16 THE STRAWBERRY CULTURISl. 



set out in the spiing, no matter whether they have been a long time 

 out of the ground, or have been taken up but recently, as the roots 

 have become ripened during the winter, and the ends are always 

 broken off in taking up, and it is necessary that they should be cut 

 off smooth and clean before planting again. Not so with plants in the 

 fall ; for the roots of the strawberry continue to grow from the ex- 

 treme end until cold weather sets in, and when carefully taken up 

 before this, the ends are not broken, and if soon planted again they 

 immediately grow. 



CHOICE OF PLANTS. 



Young runners that are well rooted are always the best, and old plants 

 should never be used if it can be avoided. When a variety is very 

 scarce and valuable, the old plants may be taken up and pulled to 

 pieces, roots and tops trimmed, and then planted. 



PI. ANTING. 



Choose cloudy weather for planting, if possible. Draw a line where 

 you are to put the row of plants, keeping it a few inches above the 

 ground, so that you may plant under the line ; this is much better 

 than to let the line lie on the ground, for then it will be in the way 

 of the transplanting trowel ; spread out the roots evenly and on every 

 side ; cover them as deeply as you can without covering the crown of 

 the plants ; press the soil down firmly around them with the hands. 



If the weather should prove dry, give them a good soaking with 

 pure water (no mere sprinkling will do) as often as they require it, 

 which will be as often as the foliage droops. The rows should be two 

 and a half feet apart, and the plants one foot apart in the rows. 

 When pistillate varieties are used for the main crop, then every fifth 

 row must be planted with a hermaphrodite variety, for the purpose of 

 fertilizing the pistillates. Pistillate varieties will not bear alone, nor 

 will they bear a full crop or perfect berries unless an abundant supply 

 of perfect flowering varieties, is placed in close proximity. Let no 

 weeds grow among them, and stir the surface of the soil as often as 

 possible ; the oftener the better. We know that some cultivators as- 

 sert that there is much injury done to the roots by frequent hoeing ; 



