==Method of Planting.==—­If Strawberry plants come to hand somewhat dry, unpack them quickly, and spread them in small lots in a cool shady place, and sprinkle lightly with water to refresh them.  A deluge of water is not needed, and in fact will do harm, but enough to moisten them will put them in a condition to begin growing as soon as they are properly located.  In planting, a little extra care in the disposition of the roots in the soil will be well repaid, for plants merely thrust into the ground cannot develop that robust root growth on which the future of the crop largely depends.  When preparing the positions it is an excellent plan to build in the centre of each excavation a mound of earth over which to spread the fibrous roots.  Then return the soil and firmly tread down.  As a finish give each plant a copious watering.  On no account should the plant be deeply buried, but the crown should be left just clear of the surface level.  The distances in planting will have to be determined by the relative vigour of the varieties and the nature of the ground.  As a rule the rows should be two feet apart, and the plants eighteen inches in the rows, but some varieties require fully two and a half feet between the rows.  It is good practice to leave a three-feet space between every two rows for necessary traffic.  A modification of the plan consists in planting a foot apart each way; and immediately the first crop of fruit is off every alternate row is removed, and then every alternate plant in each row is also taken out.  This places the remainder at two feet every way.  The ground is then lightly forked and a heavy coat of manure put on.

==The general management== comprises keeping down weeds, supplying water abundantly in dry weather, especially when the berries are swelling, and removing runners as fast as they appear, for to allow them to get ahead is most injurious, and any serious neglect of this rule is likely to ruin the plantation.  The Strawberry plant makes no proper return on a dry lumpy soil.  Large plantations that cannot be watered must be aided in the height of the season by covering the ground with any light material which will prevent evaporation.  As to obtaining runners, that is easy enough, but there is a good way and a bad way.  To allow them to spread and root promiscuously is the bad way; it injures the plants, makes the bed disorderly, and does not produce good runners.  At the time when runners begin to push, dig and manure the surrounding spaces, and allow a certain number of runners to come out from each side of the rows.  As they approach maturity and are disposed to make roots, lay tiles or stones upon the runners near to the young plants to favour the process, but a neater way will be to peg them down.  Or they may be fixed by short pegs in small pots, filled with light rich earth and plunged in the soil.