CULTIVATION OF FRUIT 457 



point from where the young leaves arise) must, however, be quite 

 free and exposed. If this were covered with soil, and the latter 

 became wet, the leaves would probably decay and death result. If, 

 on the other hand, the crown were too far out of the ground, the 

 plant would become so loose, by being shaken by the wind, that it 

 would never obtain a proper hold of the soil. First make a hole with 

 a trowel, at the spot already marked out, sufficiently large to comfort- 

 ably receive the roots when spread out as they should be ; then insert 

 the plant, cover with soil, and with the foot tread firmly all round, 

 taking care not to touch the plant itself. 



After Treatment. After planting place a mulch of well-decayed 

 manure around the Strawberry plants. If the autumn is hot and dry 

 the manure will keep the ground moist and cool, and the formation of 

 new roots will be greatly assisted. The manurial properties will also 

 be washed down into the soil by rain. On the first appearance of 

 weeds in spring at once run the hoe between the plants. In the 

 month of May a covering of clean straw should be placed between and 

 around the plants to keep the fruit clean and uninjured. Strawberry 

 fruits that are allowed to remain in contact with the surface of the 

 ground become splashed with soil during rain, and are then almost 

 worthless. The straw also serves to protect the flowers from slight 

 frost ; it is a simple matter to shake it out a little with a fork at night 

 so as to cover them over. If there are signs of sharp frost when the 

 flowers are open improvise some covering without delay, otherwise the 

 crop of fruit will be partially destroyed. Straw, old mats, or canvas 

 are excellent. Unless it be desired to increase the stock of Straw- 

 berries, the side shoots, or runners as they are termed, should be cut 

 off as soon as they appear. The swelling fruits will be greatly helped 

 by the mulch that was spread over the ground the previous autumn, 

 providing sufficient rain falls to wash its manurial properties to the 

 roots. If not, water must be applied by hand. Do not gather the 

 fruit when wet, especially when it is to travel some distance. After 

 all the fruits have been gathered remove all decayed leaves from 

 around the plants, cut away any runners that remain, and lightly fork 

 the soil in between the rows, after having first removed the straw. 



Propagation. The way to increase the Strawberry is by runners. 

 A "runner" is easily recognised. Examine a vigorous plant during 

 the summer ; it will be noticed that several long, thin, stalks we 

 may call them, proceed from it at various points, and that at the 

 end of each of these there is a tiny plant. This is a runner, and 

 propagation is effected by these (" layering" the operation is called). 

 One must so treat these small plants as to induce them to form roots. 

 They are then severed from the parent plant. There are several 

 ways of accomplishing this ; the one most strongly recommended is 

 that of layering the runners into small pots which should be about 

 2 inches in diameter, having a small piece of turf at their base for 

 drainage, fill up with soil, from which the coarser particles have been 

 sifted, then plunge them into the ground quite close to the parent 



