PROPAGATING STRAWBERRIES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1678, 3 October 1887, Page 2

PROPAGATING STRAWBERRIES.

There are various wa>s of propagating strawberries, and many good plantations are ruined by the young plants being prepared m a carelea. manner. A common < way of treating them is to allow tha runners to root into the soil by the side of the r,ows, and from thenoe to lift them and plant them m their permanent quarters. Plants m this way oannot, aa a rule, be secured with a ball of soil to their roots, and when transplant©-, they reoelve a severe oheok, from whioh they seldom recover '1 he best plan is to fill a number of sm.il pota with good soil, and plaoe a strong runner on the top of each, withont detaching it from the old plant.- Fix it m the centre of the pot with aßmall peg, mi cut tho runner away from the further aide of the little plant, The roots which form under all young plants will soon penetrate the soil m the pots, and form balls of roots, which may be planted m the open, or potted into large pots, without the least check. Ths soil m the small pots muat be watered frequently if the weather is dry . Strawberry plants for foroing are obtained by this method, and lf those intended for making new plantations were rooted m the same way the results would be far more satisfactory. Another plan that may be practised successfully is to obtain a number of fibrous turves, about 3n m thickness, and out them up Into squares of 3>n or so, nnd on these piaoes to peg the young plants. The roots soon penetrate Into the turves, and m about a fortnight eaoh piece of turf, when lifted, will be found full of roots. This ie a simple, inexpensive, and most effeotive way cf propagating strawberries, which might be profitably followed by all who wish to seoure a quantity of first-rate young strawberry plants By lowering (he turfeß into the soil they are prevented from beocming suddenly dry. In ye y dry weather they should be watered freely. The sooner runners oan be had, the better. If they can be obtained m June it is an advantage; if not, let them ba done as early ia July as possible.