FRUIT GROWING UNDER GLASS 



217 



Success in this woi'k depends largely upon strong, 

 well rooted plants in large pots of rich soil, and a full 

 resting state under similar conditions to those found 

 in the field grown crop. Strong runners from vigorous 

 plants are layered early in the summer in three-inch 

 pots, as seen in Figure 113. As soon as they are well 

 rooted tliey are shifted to five or six-inch pots and 

 placed where they can have careful attention as to 

 watering and plant food. They must be kept growing 

 vigorously until the time for resting in the fall, and 



Fig. 113— Layering Strawberry Plants in Pots 



if the j)lant food in the pots becomes exhausted, as it 

 often will when water has run through the soil freely, 

 more plant food must be applied. For success an abun- 

 dance of fine white roots and large, heavy leaves must 

 be piroduced. 



As soon as freezing nights come on, the whole 

 plant and surface soil of the pots should be exposed to 

 the weather, water should also be withheld, but the soil 

 never be allowed to become quite dry. After having 

 been thus exposed to freezing weather for a few weeks, 

 forcing may begin, though the longer frozen the better 

 they will force. The plants should be placed in a light. 



