iSyi.] STRAWBERRY FORCING. 323 



long, by 16 feet rafter. We shall only add, that after the fruit is 



gathered the wood will be thinned, and regulated for the ripening 



process. The Squire's Gardener. 



[Will any of our correspondents explain why Peaches should not be pruned on 

 the long rod and spur system, like a Plum or Pear, instead of being furnished, as 

 is the case so often, with young wood, to be annually hacked out again ? — Ed.] 



STRAWBEBRY FORCING. 



I SHOULD not again have recurred to this subject were it not owing to 

 certain statements made by Mr Young, of the Gardens, Wentworth, in a 

 private letter received some weeks ago. What Mr Young has said is 

 an entire confirmation of Mr Simpson's statements. There does 

 appear to be a veritable difficulty in that locality of cultivating some 

 kinds of the Strawberry. Mr Young says, " I have been obliged to 

 dismiss Keen's Seedling as quite useless for any purpose. Rivers's Eclipse 

 produced splendid crops for a few years, and also Elton improved, but 

 now are worthless. The Black Prince is the only variety that holds 

 its own with me, and the one upon which our supply depends." 

 It would be an inherent absurdity to doubt the evidence of two such 

 respectable men, and little short of heresy to attribute their failure to 

 want of skill in the hands of such excellent gardeners. We admit 

 the effect ; and now it is the duty of these gentlemen diligently to 

 trace out the cause for the benefit of their fellow-labourers, as it is by no 

 means likely to be confined to one locality, I have no means of knowing 

 the geological formation of the soil at Wentworth and Wortley, but 

 have a strong suspicion that it is entirely of the same character, as the 

 two places are only a few miles apart, which no doubt accounts for the 

 unity of results. I quite believe that the cause of failure is to be sought 

 in the mineral constituents of the soil ; else why should Keen's Seedling 

 do so well in one place and not in another 1 We cannot for an instant 

 suppose that the atmosphere exercises any influence in this matter. Soil 

 has a greater effect on the growth and fructification of j^lants than some 

 of us are willing to admit. While urging strongly the necessity of 

 properly-selected soil, we have also to consider its physical basis as of 

 equal importance. In confirmation of what I have said, I may notice 

 that, when situated on the Wiltshire Chalk, I could never, with every 

 imaginable contrivance, produce a satisfactory crop of Strawberries, till 

 I happened accidentally to select a pure silicious loam, after which I 

 had not the slightest difficulty with my forced crops. Here our soil 

 is composed of nearly the same constituent, and year by year Keen's 

 Seedling fruits abundantly. Alexander Cramb. 



TORTWORTH. 



[The difiFerent effects of different soils are almost incredible to i)ersons who have 

 not practised in various parts of the country. — Ed.] 



