172 THE FRUIT GARDEN 



economical. The fruits may, however, be produced in various other structures, 

 and equally well also. Better fruits may perhaps be had from a lean-to house 

 facing due south than from a span-roofed one, but for the reasons above given 

 the latter would be preferred by a market grower. Heated pits and frames are 

 particularly well adapted to the forcing of the strawberry, because one is able 

 without difficulty to keep the plants close to the glass. They have one draw- 

 back in that it is necessary to remove the lights in order to give water to the 

 plants. In cold and unfavourable weather this is a disadvantage. Thousands 

 of strawberry plants are grown on shelves in vineries, peach-houses, melon 

 houses, &c., and if they are well looked after in these positions very good results 

 are obtained. Gardeners who endeavour to utilise to the utmost the valuable 

 space in their glass-houses will not fail to have shelves placed along the front of 

 the vineries, peach-houses, and melon-houses, and high up along the back of 

 them also. Where special provision is made for forcing strawberries, they had 

 better not be introduced to vineries and peach houses, &c., as they are frequently 

 the cause of red spider on the trees. These shelves prove invaluable during 

 winter and early spring in providing accommodation for strawberries in pots. 

 The plants must be kept free from red spider, or this will spread to the per- 

 manent trees in the houses. Cold frames also are suitable positions for pot 

 strawberries for a few weeks previous to the latter being placed in heat, but 

 these matters will be more fully entered into in the remarks upon culture. 



Propagation. — The strawberry is most readily and conveniently propagated 

 by means of runners, the name given to those numerous, stalk-like growths 

 bearing tiny plants at intervals, which are produced by the parent plant. 

 Propagation is effected by so treating these small plants as to cause them to 

 form roots. The methods of doing this are various, but the one described at 

 length below is that we have found to be the best in every way. It is of great 

 importance that layering (the technical term given to the work of placing the 

 runners in soil) should be done early, so that strong and well-rooted plants may 

 be formed by the autumn. This is essential to the successful forcing of the 

 strawberry. Late-rooted runners cannot possibly produce such good plants, for 

 when they should be making rapid progress they are simply commencing to 

 form roots, with the result that by the time they are in a position to grow, 

 practically all the conditions that conduce to healthy, rapid, and vigorous growth 

 are over. And it is hopeless to expect such plants to withstand the unfavourable 

 conditions that forced strawberries are subjected to. The earlier satisfactory 

 runners are obtained and rooted the earlier will one be able to establish them 

 in the pots in which they are to bear fruit, and the greater therefore will be 

 the chances of ultimate success. We say satisfactory runners advisedly, for the 

 very earliest are not always the best. 



Preparation for Layering. — The subject of layering the runners is such 

 an important item of strawberry culture that no apology is needed for referring 

 to it at some length. The first thing to consider is the preparation of the soil 

 with which to fill the small pots wherein the runners are to be layered. It is 

 obvious that the compost in which the small plants are to establish themselves 

 must be such that the young and delicate roots may easily enter — in other 



