It is often a subject of comment how long it takes the world to profit by a good idea, and the potting of young strawberry plants, preparatory to setting out in autumn, is a case in point. It is getting on toward a quarter of a century since we made the first suggestion in the Gardeners' Monthly, that it would be well for those in the trade to prepare for such a demand. At that time it was thought the time would soon come, when the demand would arise, and inventors set themselves to prepare for it, by schemes to get the plants potted chiefly. Among others, our ingenious friend, Dr. Ryder, of Chambersburg, in Pennsylvania, invented a very cheap basket, costing almost nothing, which the grower could use and sell with the plants without missing the expense. We give here a sketch of his invention.

But nothing came of it. Few people seemed to understand that a plant that cost a trifle more than another, but gave a good crop of fruit a few months after planting, was as good as a cheaper one that took eighteen months to bring the full crop. Hence, when one had prepared the plants, there were few buyers, and the labor was wholly lost. This operated also against the use of the cheap boxes. They were no use at all after being once set in the ground. But a small flower pot could be used again, though the plant in it might have to be thrown away. So, regular flower pots are still in use for setting the runner in. But now that every body understands the vast superiority of potted plants, and even for large plantations only potted plants are found worthy of use, it is a question whether some such a plan as Mr. Ryder's might not be considered with some profit.

It will be seen that the original intention was to include the growth of all plants intended for summer bedding. The boxes are too large for strawberry runners that would be only a few weeks growing in them, for they should be a little "pot-bound" in order to take little room, and have little weight in travel, - and we think the round form - a form like a box made for salve - for all the waste of space in packing, better than the square. Our object is not so much to commend this plan exactly, as it is to set inventors to improving on the idea, now that the " long-felt want" has arisen.

Mr. Ryder says:

"Strawberry plants, etc., that have well filled the box with roots sufficient to hold the ball of earth together, will pack secure without the veneer, and being square they pack close and carry safely.

" When strawberry runners are to be layered, the plants being cultivated in rows and the ground in mellow condition, we use the tool or dibble to make the impressions in the ground, using a second tool or plug a little smaller than the first and made square at the bottom to press the box flat down until they are even with the top of the ground, the soil slightly compressed outside, when the plug is withdrawn, and the box is ready to fill with soil, all of which is performed very rapidly. The point below the square provides for drainage - as my experiments amply illustrate".

A Represents a section for a crate, with plants growing. B Section of an empty crate. C Plants ready for transportation in single specimens. D Showing position of ball with box open. E Tool with which to make boles in the soil to receive veneers. F Tool for setting veneer boxes in open ground, for layering strawberry plants, etc. H showing shape of hole made by tool, with method of drainage.

It is interesting to note what a revolution this introduction of potted runners has caused in the whole field of strawberry culture, and how changed have to be the "Seasonable Hints" in consequence. The old boys can no doubt remember the warm discussions about mowing of the leaves of the strawberry in autumn, in order that the beds might bear better the next year. In those days a strawberry bed was like an asparagus bed in this, that, once made, it was to continue a number of years. The beds were solid mats of " sod," and almost like a lawn passed over by a modern mower, after the annual mowing when the fruit was gone. But who sees a matted strawberry bed now? The potted runner, if well potted, and the bedded plants, if well bedded, will give the best crop the next spring after planting. And thus it comes about that those who strive for excellence find it pays to have new beds every year. Those who do not have the very best potted plants find the second year's crop the best, but very few in these days care to keep the same strawberry beds for over three years. The " third term " is not popular with strawberry growers now. Rotation in office prevails as a political dogma among strawberry growers.

One thing is certain, that a first-class potted runner, set out in August or September, the plants one foot apart, and the rows 18 inches, with every third row 2 feet from the others to furnish a pathway for fruit culturers and fruit gatherers, will, if the ground is made suitable to the strawberry, in all probability do its best for its owner the first season after setting out.

In old times it was a caution, not to make the soil too rich for the strawberry. They would go all to leaves it was found. Under the new system it seems almost impossible to make the soil too rich, so long as the manure is thoroughly incorporated with the soil, and the ground not a mere rank manure heap. And a deep soil that will not dry out when a few hot suns shine on it, with a situation where there is an abundance of light, and yet not exposed to the full rays of the sunlight without heat - this is found to be the essence of all that is good in modern strawberry culture. The doctrine of the wearing out of varieties will rarely get an illustration from the strawberry grown under these conditions. The spotted leaf - the fungus that interferes so much with the long continued vigor of any variety - may not be attacking plants that in the strictest sense we may call diseased. The philosopher may, with some show of facts, insist that the plants are healthy, and that the fungus is the cause of all the trouble, but we who have watched the course of cultivation through the long years past, know that " something is wrong " before the " wearing out of the variety " began.