150 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



as possible, so that the addition of dirt may be made without ren- 

 dering the bed a mass of unsightly hills and valleys. But before 

 adding the soil to the plants, sprinkle a handful of ashes around 

 the collar of each plant ; it is of great service to the side shoots 

 in giving them a vigorous start for the next season's bearing. 



" For the pistillate varieties, such as Hovey's seedling, Voor- 

 hees's &c., I use well rotted manure in connection with the ashes. 



" I consider it as essential to transplant the strawberry as the 

 cabbage-plant. The mode which has proved most successful with 

 me is, to obtain the plants from an adjoining bed established for 

 the purpose say about the first of August; take them up with a 

 garden-trowel, with a ball of earth attached, and plant them care- 

 fully, as stated in the first preparation of the rows ; and by fall 

 they will be fine, vigorous plants, and will yield a fine crop of 

 fruit the next season. 



"The plan that I have heard advocated, of allowing the run- 

 ners to take root between the old rows, for the purpose of re- 

 newal, is at variance with the principles of good strawberry cul- 

 ture. Let any one examine the roots of a runner, and it will be 

 discovered that they are mostly on one side ; therefore, when the 

 runners are left to stand, they will send up their footstalks from 

 that one side, and will seldom send out side shoots with any reg- 

 ularity, as a renewal of the plant. For, bear in mind one fact — 

 that the crown of a plant that has sent out its footstalks, having 

 been once laden with perfect fruit, will never bear perfect fruit 

 afterward ; consequently we must term it an annual, depending 

 on its side shoots forming for the renewal of its growth. There- 

 by the necessity of adding earth yearly to each plant as above 

 mentioned ; for all the deep-trenching and manuring will never 

 re-animate the main root of the crown which has once borne 

 fruit. Let any one examine the root of such j)Iant after the first 

 bearing, and he will be convinced. 



"But as to the effects of the transplanting, when a set is taken 

 out of the ground the roots are a little shortened, which causes 

 it to form roots equally on each side. Hence a beautiful plant 

 will ensue with double the quantity of fine fruit, which is an 

 ample reward for the difference of labor. 



"Being actively engaged in my profession, my leisure is not 

 sufficient to enable me to give you a detailed account of a mode 

 of preparing ground, propagation, &c. But suffice it, for the 

 present, to say that all vegetable manures are most suitable for 



