ON FRUIT CULTURE. 



I043 



Under Glass. — To force Strawberries early it is essential to 

 propagate the plants as early as possible in the summer by 

 means of runners. The first plant formed on the runner should 

 be pegged into a small "sixty "pot of rich soil, and the point of 

 the runner nipped out to throw all the energy into the embryo 

 plant. Watering must be daily attended to, and every encourage- 

 ment given to the little plant to induce it to grow well and fill 

 its pot with roots. When it is seen that the plant has rooted 

 well it should be transferred to its fruiting-pot — one 6in. in 

 diameter is plenty large enough— employing a compost of three 

 parts good fibrous loam and one part spent horse-droppings, with 



Fig. 674. — Forced Strawberry Plants in Fruit. 



a little fine bone-meal added, the whole being thoroughly 

 mixed. The pots must be well drained— a few inverted oyster- 

 shells are excellent, if covered with a little moss or leaves to 

 prevent the drainage from choking. If a pinch of soot is 

 thrown in at the same time worms will not prove troublesome. 

 Firm potting is essential to insure good crowns and full crops, 

 leaving a space of about ^in. at the top of the pot for water. 

 When potted, the plants should have a sunny, open position, 

 and if stood on boards, so much the better ; they should be 

 watered carefully, extremes of dryness or wetness being avoided. 

 A good syringing overhead after a hot day will benefit the 

 plants, and assist in keeping insects at bay. On the approach 



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