GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



plant. The object of placing the small pots in the ground is to pre- 

 vent the soil from becoming dry, as would quickly occur were the sun 

 able to reach them. The runner (the tiny plant at the end of the 

 long stalk) is then fixed into the soil of the small pot. This is some- 

 times effected by means of a piece of wire bent f| shaped, or a hairpin, 

 but more generally by wooden pegs or a stone laid on the stalk. Give 

 them water whenever required this may be even twice a day in bright 

 weather and in a week or so roots will be emitted, and quickly take 

 possession of the soil in the pot. The long stalk may then be cut, 

 thus severing all connection with the parent plant ; for the runners are 

 now established on their own roots, and well able to take care of 

 themselves. They are now ready, either for planting out in the 

 garden, as already described, or they may be again placed in larger 



FIG. 53* Strawberry plant with runners, suitable for layering. 



pots and grown for forcing. The latter half of June is the best time to 

 insert the layers in the small pots. 



Cultivation in Pots. Strawberries are cultivated in pots, so that 

 they may be taken into a glasshouse in spring, for the purpose of 

 compelling them to produce fruit earlier than those grown in the open 

 garden. Such a method is known as forcing, and the fruits thus pro- 

 duced, as forced Strawberries. Strawberry-forcing is most interesting 

 work, and should be attempted by all who wish to prolong the season 

 of this delicious fruit. It is not necessary to have a large number of 

 plants, and much fire heat is unnecessary, unless it is desired to have 

 fruits very early ; it is not, however, advisable for the small grower to 

 attempt to force Strawberries very early, for a certain proportion of 

 the plants become blind (i.e. they bear small, useless flowers, or per- 

 haps none at all), and the flavour of the fruits in the dull weather of 

 early spring is by no means first-rate. Delicious fruits may, however, 

 be had in the month of April by gentle forcing. We will now go 

 back to where the runner was left. It will be remembered that this 

 was fixed into a small pot of soil and carefully watered. About ten days 



