1879.] STRAWBERRIES ALL THE YEAR. 83 



developed, keeping them close to the glass, and well aired in fine weather to 

 prevent drawing. 



Leeks may be sown by the end of the month. To grow the great monsters 

 seen at autumn shows in Scotland, sow in heat in pots, prick out when the 

 second leaf shows, and pot on when necessary, hardening off in time to get 

 them planted in very rich soil about the middle of May. Very fine crops can be 

 raised by sowing on a slight hotbed at the end of this month. They will be 

 ready to plant out at the end of May. By this means a small spot of ground, 

 if rich, will raise an astonishing amount of the finest Leeks. 



Onions. — Sow the main crop if the situation be good, and the soil light and 

 in fine working condition, otherwise wait till next month. A sprinkling of 

 wood-ashes and soot will help the crop. 



Peas. — If none has been sown, get in the first as soon as the soil is in good 

 condition for sowing, and a second sowing soon after. 



Parsnips. — Sow by the end of the month if possible, but wait till the begin- 

 ning of March if the soil be cold and wet. 



Parsley may be sown, and Lettuces, Cress, Mustard, and small saladings 

 generally, may be sown in a warmer corner. If they can be helped with glass 

 coverings the produce will be earlier and finer. Mustard and Cress in shallow 

 boxes can be forwarded very well in the kitchen window. 



It may be useful to add that seeds should not be huddled together in heaps, 

 but should be sown so that each plant will be perfectly free of its fellow. 

 Give everything plenty room for development. A foot between rows of Onions, 

 Leeks, Parsley, Lettuce, Mustard, Cress, and suchlike, according to the rich- 

 ness of the soil, will be about an average distance. Amateurs generally sow 

 Peas too close. "When sown among other things, allow 3 feet from the roots 

 of Peas to the next row of any other crop. If the south-west winds strike 

 the garden, allow 3 J or 4 feet in the lee side of rows, if they run south and 

 north (as they should), and subtract the extra distance from the windward 

 side. If in breaks by themselves, allow from 6 to 8 feet, according to the 

 kinds, between the rows ; but most of the varieties recommended are dwarf- 

 growing, and 6 feet will do. A Villa Gardener. 



STRAWBERRIES ALL THE YEAR. 



There has been much written lately about the preparation of 

 Strawberries for forcing, both in ' The Gardener ' and in the horticul- 

 tural papers — some recommending exposure to all weathers, and others 

 more or less protection. I think the value of the Strawberry as an 

 autumn and winter fruit has not received the attention it deserves. 

 Mr Bardney's article in your January number is a step in the right 

 direction. And it is in hopes that my experience in the same way 

 may be of benefit to some of your readers that I add my testimony. 

 Gardeners situated as I am here, who have to grow all my own 

 dessert, will justly realise the value of a handsome dish of Straw- 

 berries during the shooting season. A few plants of Garibaldi 

 Strawberries that I lifted in the autumn of 1877 having proved very 

 useful, I determined last season to grow my early plants with the view 



