402 Growing the Strawberry. 
near by ina ditch. To grow strawberries it is often an advan- 
tage to have a shallow loam soil over a clay or hard-pan, for 
then the tight layer below will prevent the escape of the water 
below the reach of the roots. If this can not be had, the best 
way to grow strawberries on leachy soils for home use is to 
mulch and sprinkle. 
Propagation of the Strawberry.—Seedlings undertaken in the 
hope of originating valuablé new varieties are easily grown by 
taking off the outside Javer of the choicest berries, which carries 
with it the small, yellow seeds. Wash these from the skin and 
cover them slightly in a sandy soil partially shaded and kept 
moist by sprinkling, or a light mulch, and the plants are readily 
grown. As with seedlings of other fruits, few, if any, will be 
found superior to the parent variety. 
Plants for setting out are secured by taking off the small 
growths rooted from runners. The strongest plants are those 
nearest to the parent plant. When these are allowed to root in 
small pots plunged into the scil, they are called “pot-grown,” 
and are superior for planting out, but thev are not largely used 
in this State. When plants of any varietv are desired for new 
beds or fields, a row or more are allowed to send out runners 
during the summer, and these are fit for taking up and replant- 
ing the following winter or spring. 
Laying off Ground for Strawberrics—The essentials are 
deep and thorough pulverization of the soil and grading of the 
surface so that water will flow slowly in the ditches. Sugges- 
tions as to location of grade lines may be found in Chapter XV. 
The inclination which answers for water distribution may be 
very slight; about two inches to the hundred feet answers on the 
level lands of the Pajaro Valley, while in the foot-hills much 
greater fall is made use of, and on hillsides rows are located 
on contour lines and not in straight lines. A grade of three and 
three-quarters inches to the hundred feet is sometimes used. 
The triangle described in Chapter XV can be used to fix the 
grades. 
Of course, in grading the field it is often necessary to give 
adjacent blocks opposite inclinations to provide for the return of 
the water. On hillsides. where the water is carried down a 
ridge io a flume, it is usual to keep the water always running 
away from the flume, and only enough is taken out to reach to 
the ends of the small ditches. A grade of six inches to the rod 
is practicable for hillside irrigation, but of course only a small 
flow of water is employed. 
There are various ways of laying out strawberry beds and 
plantations. Some give flat cultivation and lay out in single 
rows two and a half to three and a half feet apart, and in some 
