178 PLANT PROPAGATION : 
seed from March to June in drills or masses where 
intended to bloom. 
STRAWBERRY.—The ordinary or large-fruited kinds 
are increased by runners, which root readily around old 
plants. Better plants are obtained by pegging or secur- 
ing in position with a small stone the first plantlet in 
pots, pinching off any further growths to confine all the 
energy to the pot plant. These, if kept watered in dry 
weather, soon fill the pots with roots, when they may be 
cut away from the parent and either planted out to 
form new beds or grown on for forcing in larger 
pots. Should there be a scarcity of pots, turves laid 
grass side downwards may be substituted, and answer 
the purpose very well. The alpine varieties give excel- 
lent results when raised from seed washed from the pulp 
of ripe fruit and sown at once, or dried and sown in 
spring either on a sheltered border outside or in pans 
and boxes stood on a gentle hot-bed. A little warmth 
will hasten growth, and after planting out the seedlings 
will fruit in autumn. 
STREPTOCARPUS (CAPE PRIMROSE).—The beautiful 
hybrid varieties of Streptocarpus are excellent green- 
house plants with a wide range of colour and an ex- 
tended season of abundant blossoms. Seed should be 
sown in January or February in pots of fine sandy 
compost that has been pressed moderately firm, watered, 
and allowed to drain for an hour. When the fine seed 
has been thinly scattered over the surface, a little silver 
sand sprinkled over—barely enough to cover them—is 
all that is needed. Cover with a sheet of glass and 
place in a shady part of a house with a temperature of 
65 to 70 degrees. Prick off the seedlings when of nice 
size for handling, and transfer to 3-inch pots when 
