THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



31 



he can succeed with either. It has long 

 been my opinion that the growing season 

 has nothing whatever to do either with 

 failure or success; it is a part of a gar- 

 dener's duty to attend to watering in dry, 

 hot seasons ; in wet seasons there is not 

 so much danger. Now, it appears to me 

 there are only two very essential points to 

 be attended to, to insure healthy, fruitful 

 plants ; but the great mistake is as to the 

 forcing season. The whole season's la- 

 bour may be frustrated by the work of a 

 few weeks, either by too much heat or the 

 want of a proper structure to force them 

 iu ; indeed, I think it a waste of labour 

 to attempt early forcing of Strawberries, 

 Four or five hundred, well managed, will 

 give a better return and greater satisfac- 

 tion, if forcing is commenced at the end of 

 January, than double the number will 

 commencing the first of December. At 

 the last-named season, the nights are long, 

 and to keep a hardy plant in the confined 

 atmosphere of a pine-stove or early vinery, 

 is likely to be a failure, and will not remu- 

 nerate a gardener for his anxiety, to say no- 

 thing of the waste of materials and labour. 

 The method I adopt for growing my 

 plants is one very generally adopted by a 

 majority of gardeners. I fill as many 

 small pots (60' s) as I want in the month 

 of June, as soon as the runners have 

 emitted the least root, with rich soil 

 pressed rather heavily into the pots ; the 

 pots are placed amongst the plants, in 

 order to receive the runners which are laid 

 upon the soil, and pressed tight or pegged 

 down with small pegs cut from old birch 

 brooms. When this is done, they are 

 watered at all times when necessary, and 

 in a fortnight they will be sufficiently 

 rooted to cut them from the parent plant, 

 when they are potted singly into thirty- 

 two sized pots, and placed thinly in beds, 

 in the most open and convenient part of 



the garden, to remain until October. 

 When they are put into frames, they will 

 require great attention. In watering 

 during the summer months, there are two 

 highly necessary points to be observed to 

 secure success at the forcing season, viz., 

 first, well growing plants ; and, secondly, 

 a sound, healthy condition during winter, 

 both of which are within command of 

 every skilful gardener ; for should there 

 not be the convenience of frames for pro- 

 tection during the winter, they may be 

 preserved in good condition after they 

 have completed their growth. 



In the following way select any shady 

 situation : — Lay the pots in a double row, 

 two feet wide ; fill up the interstices with 

 cinder ashes or dry tan, continuing layer 

 upon layer, drawing each layer in a little, 

 so as to form a ridge, which will be easily 

 protected with dry litter or mats in severe 

 weather. In this situation they will re- 

 main without water in a healthy condi- 

 tion until wanted for forcing. If plunged 

 in wet ground, they are liable to become 

 sopped with water, and the soil filled with 

 worms, which is very injurious. Where 

 there is not the convenience of frames, the 

 layering system is the most advantageous, 

 as they are less liable to receive any check 

 by the operation of potting, which is of 

 the greatest importance, as there is no 

 time to be lost in making a fruitful plant. If 

 the above remarks are strictly observed, a 

 fruitful plant isinsured. At the commence- 

 ment of forcing, I fill pans with rich soil, 

 upon which I stand the pots, so that they 

 are benefited by rooting into it ; they are 

 liberally supplied with water at all times, 

 for the least neglect in that would be fatal, 

 and often the cause of failure in a whole 

 crop. Bear in mind, a sudden heat may 

 make them barren, and too much heat 

 spoil the flavour of the fruit. 



Ramsey. J. Howlett. 



CTJLTUEE OF STEAWBERRIES, AND DESCRIPTIONS OF 

 THIRTY-SEVEN VARIETIES. 



When the soil is not too cold and damp 

 in winter, Strawberries should be planted 

 in the autumn in preference to the spring, 

 because by doing so they bear a better crop 

 the following year. We advise those who 

 receive their Strawberry plants a little 

 withered, which cannot always be avoided, 

 to restore them by plunging them into 

 water for some hours before plantiug them. 

 Anyhow they should be well watered after 



planting, let the time be when it may, and 

 shaded for a week at least, if the weather 

 be warm and dry, in order to facilitate 

 their taking root again. When the Straw- 

 berry plants arrive very much flagged, iu 

 consequence of a long journey, it is ad- 

 visable to prick them out under a cold 

 frame, which must be carefully shaded 

 during the day, and regularly aired ; when 

 the plants have well taken, they may be 



