JANUARY. 19 



the subsoil is of inferior quality, which is often the case, it should not 

 be brought to the surface, but broken up and left at the bottom of each 

 trench, placing a good layer of manure over it previous to turning in 

 the surface spit of the following trench ; but if the soil is good to the 

 depth of two feet it may be brought to the surface, and layers of 

 manure placed between the soil as the work proceeds, and previous to 

 planting the whole should be forked over and well pulverised, and, if a 

 clayey or wet soil, great advantage will be derived from a surface 

 dressing of lime or burnt earth ; leaf-mould should be avoided, except 

 as a top dressing for old plantations, otherwise it is liable to breed Fungi 

 about the roots of the plants. 



The Strawberry propagates itself very rapidly from runners springing 

 annually from the parent plant, and as young plants are the best for 

 firming new beds, it is a good practice to lay the first runners by placing 

 stones or clots of earth on each joint, after which they will soon make 

 strong plants, and if planted out in August they will produce a good 

 crop of fruit the following season. Strawberries may be planted all 

 through the autumn, or in April or May. Avoid using old plants or 

 divisions of old stools, except it is for the purpose of increasing the 

 stock of any choice kind. 



The Pine Strawberries are the largest and the best. This class 

 includes a large portion of the varieties ; they are mostly of strong 

 habit, and therefore require plenty of room ; and if fine fruit is desired 

 it is advisable to keep the plants clear of each other, and the runners 

 cut away during the summer, and to attain this object it is best to plant 

 them in rows 2h feet wide, and 18 inches from plant to plant. And 

 for the convenience of working among the plants it is a good practice to 

 lay out the Strawberry quarter in beds sufficiently wide to plant two 

 or three rows with an alley between each, broad enough to walk to 

 prevent treading on the beds when gathering the fruit, &c. In wet soil 

 it is an excellent plan to round the beds, so as to admit of the surface 

 water passing into the alleys during winter. 



In planting, choose young plants, as before stated, and keep the 

 ground free from weeds, and the surface moved about the plants by 

 frequent hoeings during the spring months. As soon as the fruit is 

 set cover the ground about the plants with fresh manure ; it serves to 

 keep the ground moist, and otherwise materially assists the growth of 

 the plants, and prevents the fruit being splashed by drenching rains. 



Immediately after the crop of fruit is gathered clear the beds from all 

 runners and dead leaves, and fork over the surface of the soil to 

 encourage a healthy growth in the plants before the autumn frost sets 

 in. Plants thus treated usually remain fruitful three or four years ; 

 after that time it is better to destroy them and make new beds. Of 

 the kinds to be recommended in this class, the following are among the 

 best : — Sir C. Napier, Ingram's Prince of Wales, British Queen, and 

 Carolina superba. The Filbert Pine and Elton are the best for cool 

 situations, and both are late kinds. For light soils, or in gardens shaded 

 by large trees, the Keens' Seedling, Ajax, and Victoria are well adapted, 

 and will do very well grown thickly together, which is a good plan in 

 gardens where birds are troublesome. 



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