JULY 395 



of the ground. Then they will grow rapidly and pro- 

 duce large leaves and strong runners, which must be 

 laid out across the piece of ground on either side of the 

 plants. Any runners beyond this first break should be 

 cut off. The runners and the plant are left to grow 

 together till about September, when the offsets will 

 have rooted and grown, and the strip of soil will be 

 covered with rich leaves and strong, healthy young 

 plants. In winter, or early next March, prepare the bed 

 in which they are intended to fruit : light loam with 

 fair quantity of old leaf-mould or rotted old hotbed 

 manure. There should not be more than four rows in 

 one bed without a small path, in order to facilitate the 

 cropping and the cutting -off of runners later on. The 

 rows should be fifteen to eighteen inches apart, and in 

 these rows plant, in March, the rooted runners of the 

 seedlings, with as good balls as you can get. They will 

 begin to bear about July, and will go on bearing until 

 the frost comes in October or November, if they have 

 been kept well watered in hot weather, and the runners 

 trimmed off. In November cut off any remaining run- 

 ners, mulch them well, and they will stand all through 

 the winter. The second year they will bear, from May 

 to November, good, large fruit about an inch long and 

 half an inch across. They should be gathered with clean 

 hands and allowed to drop off their stalks into the 

 basket. If they do not drop to-day, they will next day 

 or the day after, as they should be quite ripe. They will 

 stand plenty of sunshine if they are watered in propor- 

 tion to the heat of the weather. The fruit-bearing 

 stems, in the best kinds, are strong and stand up above 

 the leaves, so that the bloom coming on may be in full 

 light and warmth. The leaves should never fiag. Treat 

 the bed the same way in the next winter, mulching, etc. 

 This is the result: First year, sowing and producing the 



