1907.] 



Modern Strawberry Growing. 



201 



throw out^a secondary "^runner, which will produce a plantlet 

 in its turn. The^main runners — those which spring direct 

 from the plant— are the strongest, and the first plantlet the 

 best. These are the ones that the forcer takes, and these are 

 the ones any grower should secure who wants to have fruiting 

 plants the following year. They are best struck in small 

 pots, the 3-in. size being suitable. Some propagators stand 

 the pots on the soil round the plant, but it reduces labour in 

 watering if they are plunged to the brim in the soil. As the 

 plants will not be in the pots very long, it is not necessary to 

 go to a great deal of trouble in draining the pots. One piece of 

 crock is sufficient, and some growers do not even use that, but 

 put in a few flakes of leaf mould. The compost for the pots 

 may be ordinary earth, but half leaf mould and half loam, with 

 a good sprinkling of sand, is better, as it encourages early root- 

 ing. If the plants are in fruit the beds will be under straw, 

 in which case it should be pulled aside here and there to facilitate 

 sinking the pots. It is not necessary to make any incision on 

 the plantlet or runner. If the former be laid on the soil in 

 the middle of the pot, pressed firmly, and kept in position 

 with a peg or stone, it is certain to root, and that quickly. 



Plants that are struck in this way will have a spread of 4 in. 

 and be 4 or 5 in. high in August. If planted at the first favour- 

 able opportunity, that is, after the warm ground has been 

 well moistened by a heavy shower, they will establish themselves 

 at once, and inside a week be growing freely. From that time 

 onward they will thicken steadily at the heart, and have fruiting 

 crowns the following June. Stress is laid on early planting by 

 some growers. I do not find this so material as getting strong 

 plants and putting them in when the land is right. This may 

 not be till October, or even until spring. I have more than once 

 turned out pot plants in March, and had a nice crop the same 

 summer. Other things being equal, however, early planting is 

 advisable. 



Re-Planting every Three Years. — When the grower goes in for 

 early fruiting plants, he finds himself committed to what I 

 believe will be the method of the future, annual summer 

 propagation, high-pressure cultivation, three crops at the most, 

 and then — a new plantation. The more experience he has 

 of the system the more it will grow in favour. The temptation 



