Propagation

This is chiefly by runners; but the Alpines are best propagated by seed. All other kinds can only be obtained true by planting the runners. The first of these should be pegged down as early as possible, and all others removed to promote the quick rooting and strength of the young plants.

"It is a very good plan to encourage the earliest runners by letting them root in small pots sunk in the earth; as soon as they are well rooted, plant them in their beds." - Gard. Chron.

"The seeds of the true Alpine strawberry may be obtained from the Paris seedsmen. The seeds should be sown in a bed of light rich soil, or in pans, and the plants afterwards planted where they are to remain for fruiting, the soil being trenched, and well mixed with rotten dung. You may insure a more abundant crop late in the season by cutting off the blossoms that appear previously to June." - Gard. Chron.

Planting

The best period for making strawberry beds is from the close of July until the middle of October - the earlier the better - but this must be controlled by the rooting of the runners. If the planting be deferred until spring, they never succeed so well, and the produce that year is very small. Showery weather is the best for planting, and the less the roots are disturbed the better, which is the chief reason why inducing the runners to root in small pots is beneficial; they can be turned out of these without any injury to the roots. Myatt's pines are more difficult to grow fruitfully than other varieties, but Mr. Mearns says they will not fail if the following precautions are adopted: -

"Take off the first runner plants as soon as they have rooted:the weather being showery is the more suitable for transplanting. Get a piece of well-exposed rich ground ready for their reception, according to the quantity desired, and let it be divided into four-feet beds. Plant them about four inches apart; water them, and shade them for a few days if the sun should be powerful, and keep them clear from weeds. Get a piece of ground prepared for their final transplanting, either in autumn or the following spring, by trenching and manuring it. Plant them eighteen inches row from row, and nine inches in the row; and if any blossoms appear the first season pinch them off, and keep them free from weeds; but it is not necessary to divest them of their runners until the following spring, when the beds are to be cleaned, and all runners cut off; but the soil should by no means be stirred between them any further than with a Dutch hoe, to loosen the surface lightly, and without destroying more of the surface-roots than can possibly be avoided, as they are of great importance towards the success of the crop. Before the leaves cover too much of the surface, hoe gently amongst them to destroy all weeds, and afterwards cover the surface with clean straw.

Take the first produced runners from them, and plant them in a nursery bed as in the previous season; and when the fruit is all gathered, destroy the old plants, and the ground will be then ready for cauliflowers, or any other crop required to be put out at that time. Myatt-s pine will do little good by remaining a third season upon the same ground, however well manured; and this is generally applicable to hautboys, the Elton pine, Downton, and in fact to all strawberries." - Gard. Chron.