THE STRAWBERRY CTJLTURIST. 23 



instead of the ground, for in the latter case, worms will be very likely 

 to enter the pots through the hole in their bottom. When the pots 

 have become filled with roots, and before they become matted, shift 

 into four or four-and-a-half inch pots, in which they should remain 

 a few months and then be changed to six-inch pots, in which they are 

 to fruit. Some prefer to give them two shifts ; others put them into 

 the large pots at once from those in which they are struck. Either 

 plan will work well if the operation is carefully done. Care should 

 be observed in re-potting to not break the ball of earth around the 

 plants, and to have the soil put around the plant of the same consist- 

 ency as that of the ball itself. The crown of the plant should be about 

 level with the top of the pot. 



Good drainage is very important, and to secure it, lay first over the 

 hole of the pot a piece of a broken pot, or shell, with the concave side 

 down, then place a few small pieces around and on the top of this, 

 over which put a piece of old sod or moss, and a small handful of ashes 

 or soot over all, to prevent worms from entering from below. The 

 larger the pots the more drainage must be used. No drainage is 

 needed for the little pots that are placed in the open ground in which 

 the runners are first struck. 



When the plants have received their final shift into the large pots, 

 they should be placed upon a low staging, or upon slats, in the open air, 

 so that the hole in the pot shall not be closed. Attend to watering, and 

 by the first of November they are ready for early forcing or putting away 

 for fruiting later in the season. Where a succession of crops is desired, 

 only a portion at a time should be placed in the forcing-house 4 the 

 others being kept in a cool place, from which they may be taken as de- 

 sired. It requires from ten 

 to fourteen weeks from the 

 time the plants are placed 

 in heat until the fruit will 

 be ripe. 



The best place to store the 

 plants potted for forcing 

 during the winter is the Vis ' 9 ' 



wailed pit (Figure 9), which should be made partly in the ground ana 



