108 MODERN STRAWBERRY GROWING 
When the fruit is set, all but six or eight 
of the very best fruits should be picked off. 
This will result in greatly increased size of 
the remaining berries, as the full strength or 
life of the plant is given to produce these 
few. At this time it is a good practice to 
give the plants an application of liquid man- 
ure, made by diluting well-rotted cow manure 
with water. At first the solution must be 
weak, and not applied very often, one dose in 
four or five days being enough, increasing the 
number of applications as the size of the 
fruit progresses. Also slightly increase the 
strength of the liquid. 
At ripening time it is important to be 
very careful in applying this, ofttimes it is 
better to use clear water than to discolour 
the fruit with the former watering. 
As the fruit swells and hangs so that it 
can touch eithér the soil, pot, or wood, it is 
often best to give it some support in order 
that the fruit may be ripened all over. 
Small meshed window screening, cut so that 
it can hold up the fruit, is very good. Pieces 
of hay wire bent so that the fruit will be held 
away from the pot are also used. 
The fruit should be picked as explained 
