STRAWBERRY. 



287 



Propagation,— ThQ usual time for transplanting straw- 

 berry-plants is August. That time is chosen because they 

 have then done bearing, and have made oiisets, if the sea- 

 son has been favourable, of strong plants, set from their 

 runners. Plantations made at this season will bear some 

 fruit the next summer. But, if you can get good vigorous 

 plants in May of the preceding season, I prefer to plant 

 then, as it saves a year, nearly, the plants being ready to 

 bear abundantly the next year. 



Gardeners have different habits and opinions as to trim- 

 ming the plants when they are put out. Some cut off ail 

 the old leaves, and preserve only the naissant leaves in the 

 centre of the plant. Others take off the dead or decayed 

 leaves only, and plant with all the old healthy leaves on 

 the plant. This last plan is highly recommended by the 

 Abbe Rozier, but, so far as my experience goes, I have 

 found the first mentioned course the best. Many people 

 cut the roots in before they put them into the ground : all 

 dead substances should be cut off, but not the roots. When 

 the plants are put out, they should be kept free from weeds, 

 and the ground should be kept loose about them. If the 

 plants are strong, put but one to form the stools ; if weak, 

 put two. 



As regards the distance at which plants should be set, 

 tultivators differ. The common red strawberry, which is 

 found in all our gardens, may be put eight inches apart in 

 rows nine inches or a foot from each other, and allowed to 

 form a matted bed of eighteen inches or two feet wide, 

 with a foot-path of a foot wide between them. But th 

 larger and finer sorts should be planted in stools in beas- 

 four and a half feet wide, with a path of fifteen inches or 

 more between the beds. In these beds the plants should 

 be set, by a line, fifteen to eighteen inches apart, both 

 ways, taking care to set them in quincuncial order, and 

 to keep them from running together. 



The objection generally made to this mode of cultivation 

 is, that the fruit is exposed to be injured by lying on the 

 ground, where it is bruised and covered with dirt every 

 time it rains. This, however, may be prevented by a little 

 care. In some parts of Europe, where moss is plenty, it 

 is collected and put round the stools, so as to prevent the 

 fruit from lying on the ground, and at the same time to 

 prevent the moisture round the plant from evapora^t- 

 ing. 



In some places, where moss is not to be got, straw is used 



