295 



The following are the number of plants to the acre at the 

 distances mentioned : 



2ft. x 1ft 21,780 



2ft. x 1ft. Gin. ... 14,520 



2ft. x 2ft. 

 3ft. x 1ft. 



10,900 

 14,520 



3ft. x 1ft. 6in. 

 4ft, x 1ft. ... 

 4ft. x 1ft. Sin. 

 4ft. x 1ft. 6in. 



9,658 

 10,900 

 8,712 

 7,260 



It is often the practice, however, to plant strawberries amongst the 

 trees in young orchards, and in that case ample room should be left 

 between the row nearest to the trees and the trees themselves 4ft. 

 to 5ft. at least ; this would reduce the number of strawberry plants 

 to the acre very considerably. G-rowing strawberries in a young 

 orchard, under such conditions must be, if the plantation has been well 

 looked after, beneficial to the trees, as the ground is, after two 

 or three years, left in a high state of fertility and tilth, which cannot 

 but be conducive to the growth of the trees. 



If the beginner has not raised his plants himself, he should 

 procure them from a careful grower, and he should be particularly 

 careful that the parent plants are strong, fruitful, free from leaf 

 blight and other pests ; plants affected by disease are dear at a gift.. 

 The rooted runners of the previous year's growth having been lifted 

 and bunched up in convenient handfuls, it is important that their 

 roots are not exposed to the desiccating action of the sun and wind. 

 Some place them over the moist earth with a wet bag thrown over 

 them ; others, after trimming off the dead leaves and young runners 

 and shortening the roots one -third, place 

 them in buckets with an inch or so of water ; 

 they will then keep for a day or two. A 

 little quantity of lime or wood ashes in the 

 water would kill any possible slugs which 

 might have secreted themselves amongst the 

 roots of the young plants, and when planting 

 a garden free from such pests every care 

 should be taken against its introduction by 

 TOO Shallow. means of plants, manures, or packages. 



This planting is done either by means of special tools or almost 

 as readily by using either a spade or a spading fork, but whatever 

 the method of setting is followed, it is important that the plants be- 

 set at the correct depth ; that is to say, not 

 too shallow nor too deep, as in the one case 

 they would perish from desiccation, and in 

 the other through suffocation in the earth ; 

 the right way of setting the young plants 

 is with the crown level with the ground, 

 the roots spread out, and never stuck in 

 gathered up in a bunch ; in any case, the 

 earth should be well set and pressed firmly 

 around the roots. Plants of even strength 

 alone should be planted together, or else 

 the fruit crops, which generally sets in the 

 second year after planting, is otherwise 

 uneven. 



Correctly Set. 



