26 MODERN STRAWBERRY GROWING 
The plants can be set with a hand trowel 
in place of the spade. At the proper point 
on the mark or under the line, the trowel is 
pushed into the soil and the handle is brought 
forward and sideways, making a hole four to 
six inches long and deep, and about an inch 
wide at the top; the plant is laid flat on the 
ground with the top of the roots near the 
crown over the hole. Then using the edge 
of the hand the roots are pushed down 
into the hole and are well spread; the plant 
is then held at the correct depth with one 
hand and with the other hand the trowel, 
back toward the plant, is thrust into the soil 
about two inches from the plant followed by 
a quick motion on the trowel toward the 
plant. The earth is firmed around the plant. 
Following this the operator can step on the 
soil, firming it more thoroughly, but this is 
not necessary. The next plant is then set, 
and so on. 
There is still another method which is 
sometimes used on the home grounds or in 
small beds. This consists of removing the 
plant from the propagating bed with the 
greatest amount of roots, and a large lump of 
soil. The tool used consists of a round piece 
