The Garden Under Glass

FORCING STRAWBERRIES IN POTS 175 absence of straw or of overcrowding of runners, there should be every prospect of getting a good start. The general method—which I do not advise—is to secure such runners as are available from fruiting plants. This may serve the purpose, and with skilful management afterwards it is quite possible to secure good fruit. But it is certainly not the best way. Let us consider. As soon as the fruit has set straw is placed beneath them along each side of the row in order, of course, to keep the fruit from draggling in the soil. This means that the runners go a considerable distance beneath the straw and thus become weak and unripened, and the thin leaves stand on long, siender stalks. Not until the fruit has passed and the litter cleared away can layering be successfully accom-plished. Planting out Forced Plants In pursuance of the policy of growing, especially for runners, it is an excellent plan to save the best of the plants which have been forced, and after duly hardening them off to plant them on a piece of trenched ground. Some good runners can be procured in this way, and if they have not been forced very hard they should make splendid plants for fruiting the following year. Layering Strawberries When the runners are large enough layering may be com-menced. For whatever purpose the plants are intended it is better to layer them in pots, but especially so if good pot plants are desired. I would. advise amateurs to layer into 3-inch pots. These should be clean, but a small bunch of leaves put in the bottom will serve the purpose of drainage quite as well as crocks. Fill the pots with