Middletown transcript., 1899-04-29

OLD PLANT. STRONG YOUNG PLANT.
of which are dead or broken. If plants
of good quality, which can be depended
upon to give large corps, are desired,
those selected for planting should have
good crowns and well developed roots
Gig. y. As a rule only the first plants
on the runners should be used
Dealers in strawberry plants, when
picking up the plants after they have
been dug, generally remove the dead or
diseased leaves and runners. and at the
same time straighten out the roots and
the remaining leaves. Sometimes the
setting Of the plants is necessarily de-
layed until late in the season, when, if
the air happens to be dry, there will be
great danger Of the whiting and perhaps
the killing of the plants from the heat
and dryness of the soil and air. Under
these conditions it will be advisable to
cut off the leaves except one or two of
the smaller ones, as by thus reducing
their surface the evaporation will be
lessened. When plants have been pur-
chased and have become dry or heated
in the bundles, it will be advisable to
unite the bundles and either place them
in water up to the crowns in some cool,
shady place, or to heel them in, SO that
the soil will be in contact with roots of
each plant in moist soil, where they
can be shaded and occasionally sprin-
kled. In few days the plants that
have not been killed will recover.
When the plants are being set, equal
care should be taken that the roots are
not exposed. Should the soil be dry, a
pint or SO Of water should be given each
plant before the planting has been COM
pleted, this will permit of the drawing
Of dry sell about it after the water has
soaked in, and the baking Of the soil
about the plant viii be prevented. In
setting the plants spade, dibble or
trowel may be used. When the dibble
or spade is used, cut is made in the
ground to the depth of Elk or eight
inches, and the soil is pressed back in
either direction by side movement of
the handle. In the opening thus formed
the roots are placed, care being taken
that they are not cramped and that they
are so spread out that the soil can be
brought in contact with each of them.
When large plants, with thick mat Of
roots are used, this is particularly nee
essary, as otherwise the soil would only
be in contact with layer of roots upon
the outside Of this bundle.
There is also considerable danger of
loss if attention is not given to the depth
at which the plants are set, they should
be at such depth that the bud will be
just above the surface as at O in the
second cut, for if deeper than this there
will be danger that, especially on heavy
coil, the bud cannot make its way
through the soil, while If not deep
enough part of the roots will be ex-
posed and the plant will be very likely
to dry out. If placed perhaps quarter
or half inch deeper than it grows in the
field, this win be sufficient to allow for
the setting of the plant and will leave it |
IN about the right position. In planting |
with the trowel the same method NAV |
be used as with the dibble or spade, but |
with a few plants many think it viii |
pay to take somewhat more pains with
the planting. A large hole is dug, and
in the bottom Of this conical elevation
is left, around and upon which the roots
are spread
After placing the plants at the right
depth the soil is pressed against them
with the dibble or hands, SO that it
VIII be in close contact with the roots,