48 On the Forcing of the Strawberry. 



between the finger and thumb, which will strengthen the 

 plants, and cause them to send out runners early ; when the 

 runners begin to grow, they are to be laid out in a regular 

 manner, that the young plants may have a free circulation 

 of air, and receive the sun. As the principal object is to 

 obtain early plants, they may be greatly facilitated, by lay- 

 ing the joints, as they protrude from the plant ; and if a 

 quantity of well-rotted manure is occasionally thrown over 

 them, the better : water may also be applied, to aid their 

 early rooting, which is one grand object, in order to forward 

 the plants in a vigorous, healthy, manner. 



Potting the Plants. When a portion of the plants are thus 

 rooted, they are to be potted in the following manner : A 

 quantity of pots may be procured of the following dimen- 

 sions : six inches deep, and about the same in diameter on 

 the top [No. 4], which may be filled with compost belore or 

 after plunging. 



Compost. The compost that I can best recommend, is two 

 thirds of good sandy loam, and one third of leaf mould and 

 horse manure, of equal quantity ; this should be procured 

 three months before planting, and well mixed and incorpo- 

 rated together, with which the pots are to be filled, previous 

 to planting. 



Plunging the Pots. A situation for plunging the pots should 

 be chosen in a western aspect, where the sun does not have 

 its full influence, but where a free circulation of air can be 

 obtained in every direction. The spot of ground being se- 

 lected, prepare it for plunging the pots, by laying out beds 

 three or four feet wide, or in such a manner as to admit of 

 four, six or eight rows of pots in the bed across : the length 

 may be in proportion to the quantity required. The bed 

 may be laid out by marking with a spade, by a line each 

 side, when the earth is to be taken out to the depth of the 

 pots, that tiieir rims may be even with the surface of the 

 ground. The pots are then to be placed in a regular man- 

 ner in the bed, and filled (if not done before plunging) with 

 the prepared compost ; and, in such case, the vacancies be- 

 tween them will require to be filled with the earth taken 

 from the bed, which is the most econonucal method, if the 

 compost is not plentiful : on the other hand, the filling of the 

 whole, when the pots are plunged, is the most ready meth- 

 od ; therefore the choice of the best method must depend on 

 circumstances. The pots being filled, the whole of the bed 

 is to be well watered, to settle the earth in the pots ; and in 

 the evening (which is the best time), the plants are to be 

 dibbled into the pots. 



Planting the Strawberry. The young plants are to be taken 

 from the vines, and dressed in the usual way, by shortening 

 the roots, and taking off the dead leaves. 



