Training the Plant 97 



makers. Some sorts, as the Clyde, make plants early in 

 the season and few in late summer ; others, as the Warfield, 

 make plants quite imifonnly throughout the season. 

 Mother plants should not be allowed to support runners 

 until well established. When early bedding is desired, 

 prompt removal of the flower-stalks as soon as they appear 

 will encourage early rimner-making. 



Methods of bedding. 



In humid regions, runners root easily. It is possible to 

 handle the cultivator so skillfully that it will cover the 

 tips of runners lightly with soil. All that may be necessary 

 is to place a small stone, clod, piece of sod or handful of 

 soil on the runner cord, just back of the growing tip. If 

 small roots have appeared, press the tips into the soil, and 

 hold the runner cord in place with soil or gravel. In dry 

 weather and in arid regions it is necessary to bed runners 

 to be sure of a full stand. In the prairie regions, strong 

 winds blow them about; it is essential to hold them 

 firmly in place. Sometimes an inverted crotched stick 

 is used for this purpose. 



F. G. Tice, of New York, gives the following advice: 

 "Bedding the runners is done astride the row, using a 

 home-made tool. Train runners in front of the plant, 

 as the bedder is working, to the left ; train those behind 

 the plant to the right. This prevents the bunching of 

 runners and allows the extra plants to run out into the 

 alleys, where they are cut oflE." The bedding tool is a piece 

 of hoop iron fashioned like a wide putty knife. A slit is 

 made in the ground, the tip is thrust into this and the soil 

 pressed around it. Runners from weak mother plants 

 should not be bedded ; use runners from adjacent strong 

 mother plants. The time required depends somewhat 



