Strong well-rooted plants are essential to success, and no trouble should be spared to secure them from robust free-fruiting stocks.  The earliest runners must either be layered on square pieces of mellow turf or over thumb pots filled with a good rich compost.  When the runners are fairly rooted in the layers of turf or the thumb pots they should be transferred to pots of the fruiting size.  No. 32 is generally used for the purpose.  After the pots have been crocked some growers add a layer of half-inch bones, which aid the plants and insure free drainage.  The most satisfactory soil is a rich fibrous loam, with the addition of one-fourth of well-rotted manure and a small proportion of sand, and the compost must be well firmed into the pots with the ramming stick.

The best place to keep the plants is an open airy situation, easily accessible, where the pots can stand on a bed of ashes.  On the approach of frost they can be transferred to a cold frame, keeping them close to the glass, or they may be plunged in ashes in some sheltered position.

When the time arrives for forcing, it is usual to commence by plunging the pots in a bed of warm leaves or in a mild half-spent hot-bed.  Immediately the plants show sign of blooming they must be shifted to warmer quarters.  A shelf at the back of an early vinery or Peach-house, quite near the glass, is a suitable position.  The temperature at starting should be 55 deg.  Fahr., rising gradually to 60 deg. by the time the leafage is thoroughly developed.

The appearance of the flower trusses is a critical period.  Liquid manure should then be given freely, and at the same time the plants must have abundance of light and a warm dry atmosphere.  The blossoms need to be artificially fertilised with a camel’s-hair pencil, choosing midday as the best time for this operation.

When the crop has set it must be thinned to about nine berries on each plant, and in due time the fruits should have the support of forked sticks.  Care will be necessary to prevent injury to the stalks, or the flow of sap to the berries may be arrested.  Syringe twice a day in dry weather; and on the first show of colour discontinue the manure-water and use pure soft water only.  At this stage a night temperature of 65 deg. must be maintained, giving all the air and light possible.

More failures in the pot culture of Strawberries are attributable to neglect in watering than to any other cause.  The soil must never be allowed to become dry.  Should the leaves once droop they seldom recover.  At least twice a day the plants will need attention, and it is important that the water should be of the same temperature as the atmosphere.  Always leave the cans full in readiness for the next visit.