60 
SETTING STRAWBERRIES 
An extra good shipper, or a large fancy berry for market that will pay 
especially high prices? Different markets and different individuals 
have different preferences. Some like a round, others like a long berry; 
some a bright red, others a dark red strawberry. For commercial markets 
and long-distance shipments the choice of kinds is narrowed down to a 
few for each locality; but where j-ou are planting for nearby markets 
and home use, you have a wider range to choose from. 
"Danain-i- nf TJIqti+c When the plants arrive at your station, get them 
«.eceipx Oi i-iants ^^^^ Unpack the box without delay. If you 
are not ready to plant, dig a shallow trench about 5 inches deep and "heel 
them in." One side of the trench should be smooth and slope at an angle 
of 45 degrees. Cut each bundle, shaking out the roots. Lay the pla^ts 
side by side, with the top of the crown just above the surface of the 
ground. Cover the roots with dirt. Then another row of plants can be 
set alongside the first, and so on. In this way a great many plants can be 
put in a small space. 
Preparing the Just before the plants are set out, remove all the 
■pian+o 'Rofnro foliage except the growing point and one leaf. This 
t; • r^t leaf should be the smallest and last one produced by 
Setting Them the plant. Cut back the roots about one-third. This 
can be done very rapidly with a sharp knife. The plants can be placed 
in a large bucket with a little water in the bottom. Where several men 
are planting, a boy usually drops the plants just ahead of the men. 
A — Too Shallow. B — Too Deep. C — Just Right. 
The Right and Wrong Way to Set Plants 
Strawberries are soft, succulent, shallow-rooted plants, while trees 
have hard wood and deep roots. 
A — This shows a plant that has been set too shallow. The crown is 
exposed. The air will get to this crown and dry it out and the plant will 
die. The lower part of the crown must always have moist dirt packed 
firmly about it. 
B — This shows a plant that has been set too deep. The dirt will wash 
into the top of the crown and the new tender green leaves at the center 
will rot and the plant will die. 
