THE STRAWBERRY. 235 



If a good, rather light loam cannot be procured for these 

 early plants, a heavier loam can be lightened by adding 

 a small portion of clean gritty sand, or, what is prefer- 

 able, some finely-sifted old mortar or old plaster-lime. 

 For those intended for the beginning of April onwards 

 to the time of outdoor strawberries, 6-inch pots are to 

 be preferred, and also a loam of a rather more holding 

 or adhesive character, but mixed with the same man- 

 urial ingredients recommended for the early plants ; 

 a more retentive soil being more suitable for the sun- 

 nier months of April and May, when more moisture is 

 required. 



In shifting the plants, the soil should be firmly 

 packed round the balls, so as to get as much of it into 

 the space as possible, and also to prevent the too free 

 escape of water between the ball and sides of the pot. 

 Care should be taken that the hearts of the plants are 

 not immersed in the soil ; and there should be at least 

 a quarter of an inch of the pot left unfilled up, so that 

 the watering can be effectually done. 



When shifted, they should be thoroughly watered 

 through a rose, and allowed to stand in some position 

 where they can escape the mid-day sun for a few days. 

 Then remove them to some warm place where they can 

 have the full sun all day, and at the same time be 

 sheltered from high winds, which would lash and injure 

 the foliage. I have generally placed the plants on a 

 raised trellis-work, in order to prevent worms from get- 

 ting into the pots, and the plants from rooting through 

 into the ground. This precaution in the latter case 

 is very necessary ; for if placed on the ground they are 

 sure to root through, andif left to themselves the roots 

 will to a great extent desert the pots. In the case of 



