« The Strawberry Book. 17 
not likely that the surface of the soil will freeze hard again. 
Plants set at this time not only get settled, but begin to 
. grow by the first of May, soon put out runners, and by the 
first of Septemiber present the well-ripened stocky appear- 
ance that gives promise of an abundant yield. 
These remarks should not discourage any one from 
planting in the fall if he mzs¢ plant at that time or not at 
all, or if he has new varieties to set, from which he wishes 
an immediate return. Plants that have been carefully 
layered in.pots may be transplanted at almost any time in 
the fall, and will give a moderate crop the next year. 
I planted on the 21st of September, 1868, a hundred 
vines of. the President Wilder, layered in pots, and got a 
very decent crop the following season. 
T have planted in August ordinary vines of the Agricul- 
turist and Brooklyn Scarlet, and had moderate success, 
but almost entirely failed with the Triomphe de Gand set 
a little later. The vines of the latter kind lived and grew 
well, but showed no fruit. 
The time being fixed upon, the soil prepared, and the 
vines made ready, shortening their roots one third with a 
clean cut, planting is a comparatively ‘simple affair. A 
strong line should be stretched across the field, the plants 
(which should be kept in a basket, well protected by wet 
moss) dropped at regular intervals, and set out by two or 
three hands distributed along the line. They should all 
work in the same direction, and a gery little practice will 
show who sets fastest, and, consequently, at-what intervals 
they must be placed. While they‘are planting, another 
hand (generally the boy who has dropped the plants for 
the first row) stretches a second line at the proper distance, 
and drops plants alorig it, so that the planters need not be 
delayed a moment. If the soil is as it should be, viz., well 
worked, fine, and free from stones, the planters will not 
need any trowel, but will make a little excavation with 
the fingers, and set the plant with the left hand, giving 
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