174 

 EARLY STRAWBERRIES. 



BY MR. HOWLETT. 



[jHEREVER Strawberries are forced, the business should 

 be commenced in the middle of June, and therefore this 

 is the proper time for a practical man to write about 

 it if he would be thoroughly useful to his readers. If 

 we want early Strawberries we must obtain our plants 

 early, and I advise every cultivator who contemplates forcing 

 Strawberries next spring to see about making a fine stock of 

 plants at once. I have nothing new to propose on the subject, 

 but as a short paper embodying the results of much experience and 

 observation may be useful now, I will endeavour to present a com- 

 plete code in a few words. 



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 32-sized pots, and placed thinly in beds in the most 

 open and convenient part of the garden, to remain until October. 

 In watering during the summer months, there are two points highly 

 necessary to be observed to secure success at the forcing season, viz., 

 first, weil-growing plants ; and, secondly, a sound, healthy condition 

 during winter, both of which are within command of every skilful 

 gardener. 



Should there not be the convenience of frames for protection 

 during the winter, they may be preserved in good condition after 

 they have completed their growth by the following procedure: — 

 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 remain without water in a healthy 

 condition until wanted for forcing. If plunged in wet ground, they 

 are liable to become mildewed and the soil filled with worms, either 

 of which is verv injurious. Where there is not the convenience of 

 frames, the layering system is the most advantageous, as thev 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 is insured. 



At the commencement 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 



