niciTt] STRAWBERRIES AND THEIR KIN 
the soil is not sticky. The ground, in fact, should 
be rather dry than otherwise when the planting 
takes place. 
Here comes a very particular point in the cul- 
ture of strawberries. The plants, if received from 
a distance, should have had a good bath, of an hour 
or two, in a brook or a tub of water. The ground 
being friable and clean, draw your line; then with 
a trowel dig a small, shallow hole, and have the 
ground slightly mounded inthe bottom. Spread 
the roots over this, shove on the dirt, and crowd 
down with all your might. If you have got the 
dirt just right, the plant will be left with the crown 
exactly level with the general surface of the ground. 
Mark you, it must not stand above, nor must it be 
crowded at all below — it must be absolutely level 
with the general surface. After having crowded 
in dirt to cover the roots, slowly pour in a quart of 
water, then throw over loose dirt, and your planting 
will be a success. You cannot set a strawberry 
plant as you would a cabbage plant — that is, with 
indifference to the exact depth of the crown. 
Now if dry weather sets in, and watering be- 
comes essential, irrigate regularly, if you can, with 
pipes. If you have not any such convenience, dig 
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