572 THE GARDENER. [Dec. 



underneath the roots of plants is unnatural, but it is safe, provided the heating 

 power is situated deep enough. We are told on good authority that the efifeet 

 of the heat on vegetation around hot springs is wonderful ; and I know of a coal- 

 pit which has been in a candescent state for years, and its track above ground is 

 marked by the earliness of vegetation. The heat is just sufficient to accelerate 

 the maturation of vegetables and fruit, and keep the water in the wells tepid ; and 

 I have beard of cottagers located upon this favoured strip, who send their early 

 Potatoes to the market when they are selling by the pound, and realise a 

 handsome profit. This, however, is bottom-heat on a scale which would hardly 

 pay even for Grape-growing, but it indicates the conditions to be arrived at, if 

 we wish to be successful in its application for that purpose. J. S. W. 



TO KEEP THE FRUIT OF THE STRAWBERRY CLEAN". 



It is quite impossible to keep the fruit of the Strawberry free from 

 sand without placing something or other underneath it. Of all the 

 different materials used I consider that bark is best. I have used 

 many. For instance, drain-pipes placed along each side the row, and the 

 fruit-stalk resting upon them, was a system long practised in this 

 neighbourhood. Slates and paling placed upon bricks, or small fir- 

 branches stuck in the ground, and the fruit-stalk hanging over them. 

 Still a great part of the crop was rendered useless. Grass-mowings 

 or moss answer better; but if the season be wet, it soon rots and has a 

 very unsightly appearance — in fact, at all times when it is dried or 

 bleached white : whereas bark, being nearly the colour of the soil, makes it 

 pleasant to the eye, and although it be spread over quite thin, will keep 

 the fruit clean and last the fruiting season. I have noticed after wet 

 days grass-mowings battered to the ground, and they took a long time in 

 drying. Now the bark, being loose, acted like drainage. Whenever the 

 rain was over it was dry, which is the saving of the fruit. It does not 

 encourage slugs or snails as grass-mowings do, and answers as a top- 

 dressing. The Strawberry appears to benefit by it. I have likewise used 

 straw, but nothing answers so well as bark both for look and purpose. 

 It is very cheap — in many places can be had for nothing, wdiere other 

 material except grass is often very scarce. Grass I consider the worst 

 for the weeds it produces, and the great enemy to Strawberries, slugs, 

 to which it gives shelter. Nobody cares to eat after snails ; and to see a 

 large Strawberry pierced through and through by them often draws 

 forth maledictions upon their heads from some of the fair sex, just as if 

 the fine Strawberry was quite unfit for a snail to eat ; but eat it he will 

 if he gets the chance, so we must try and give him no shelter. Should 

 any of the readers of the ' Gardener' get but one cartload of bark 

 from the tanyard and try it, I am confident it will give them satisfac- 



