124 CARE OF PLANTS. 



in shape, the serious work of caring for the plants 

 commences. 



CLEANING, WATERING, SYRINGING, MULCHING, AND 

 FEEDING. 



Eternal vigilance is necessary in the matter 

 of cleaning. We try to get over the plants at 

 least once a week, cutting off all yellow and dying 

 leaves and gently stirring the surface of the soil 

 with the fingers. All weeds, too, are pulled up or 

 torn up in the stirring. In cleaning we never use 

 anything but a knife, as pulling the leaves off is a 

 bad practice for it is apt to tear the bark and 

 open the way for the attacks of fungi. Toward 

 the middle of August the runners will begin to 

 come, and they must be cut off as soon as possible. 

 Many abortive flowers will appear too and they 

 must not be allowed to stay on the plant. In 

 cleaning we have made it an invariable practice 

 to throw all dead leaves, runners, etc., into a box 

 or basket, emptying these into a barrel or box out- 

 side at suitable intervals. We do not believe it 

 wise to throw the material into the walks, for no 

 matter how soon the latter may be swept, some of 

 the decaying material is trampled upon and in 

 this way the first steps toward the beginning of 

 disease may be taken. The only safe rule 

 to follow is to never allow a leaf of 

 any kind to lie around and decay in 

 the houses or frames. We have time and 

 time again seen growers cleaning their plants, 



