CHAPTER VI. 



PLANTING. 



Never set out a feeble plant. TIM. 



I HAVE found the Aspinwall potato planter, with the 

 ridgers on, a very valuable implement for striking 

 out for the strawberry rows. It can be made to 

 ridge up slightly, which is right, and it deposits fertili- 

 zer in the row where needed for the young plants. 

 Let the roller follow, and then draw a straight line 

 with a garden rope, press the rope in with the feet 

 for a mark, or set the plants along the rope. See to 

 it that all feeble plants are thrown out and all old 

 plants. 



The color of the roots is a distinguishing mark 

 of old plants. Such plants are worthless, and if any 

 are discovered in packages sent from a nursery, they 

 should be thrown away ; it is useless to set them. 



A special trowel. Fig. I, flat like a 

 mason's trowel, but wide and full at the 

 point, with extra large handle, is the best 

 tool to use for setting. Let a boy go 

 ahead and drop. 



Be careful not to set too 

 deeply as in Fig. 2, or too 

 shallow as in Fig. 3, and do 

 not bunch the roots as in Fig. 4, but see 

 that every one goes in like Fig. 5. Fl - 2 



Above all, pinch the earth very hard against the 

 roots of the plant, and this may be done with the toe 



