iSyi.] STRAWBERRY FORCING, 219 



about 2 Indies across. But the successful production of fruit, in this 

 instance, is not all I wish to note ; for besides, in tasting the fruit of 

 the Marguerite and that of the Keen's Seedling, which were both grow- 

 ing side by side under glass, the former was superior in flavour to the 

 latter ; whereas, when they were similarly growing out of doors to- 

 gether, the reverse was the case. As this is an additional feature of 

 interest, and certainly of importance, if I may yet dare to call it a 

 fact, I shall be glad to learn if any of your other correspondents 

 have ever noticed a similar occurrence. It is certain, however, in the 

 cases of different kinds of plants, and apparently Strawberries in par- 

 ticular being suited to different places, that it is a matter of the 

 greatest importance for the gardener to consider. 



Mr Simpson, in his mode of preparing young Strawberry runners 

 for forcing, prefers the laying of some nice soil on the surface of the 

 ground in preference to the common use of small pots. This plan I 

 have not yet seen or heard of being tried before largely, although it 

 is very simple and reasonable. At one place where I was once em- 

 ployed, about 3000 Strav/berry runners were annually prepared for 

 forcing. It happened to be my lot on one occasion to lay nearly all 

 of them. The manner of my procedure was as follows : At first a 

 good heap of light soil was prepared. A hand-barrow was then 

 brought and placed near. This I had quickly filled with a lot of 

 small pots. This done, all the pots were filled with soil with a 

 spade in a rough-and-ready manner. The soil was smoothed over level 

 with the rims of the pots with an old rake-handle, as if for measuring 

 a bushel of corn; then, with a little assistance, the handbarrow 

 was taken and carried to the place where the pots were to be dis- 

 posed of. Getting there, with a crowbar I searched, and wherever 

 I could find good runners I made holes to suit the pots. When 

 at length I thought I had made as many holes as I had pots for, I 

 began to plunge them, laying the runners accordingly. This was 

 the manner I adopted, which will be found to be much preferable 

 to the more common one of setting the pots and laying the runners 

 all along on the surface of the ground between the rows of per- 

 manent Strawberries, where they get dried up and knocked about 

 anyhow. 



Mr Simpson very justly condemns the practice of placing saucers 

 of water underneath the pots, submitting his own very good and 

 improved substitute when the Strawberries are being forced. It can- 

 not be otherwise than injurious in principle, for if the plants are turned 

 out of the pots, the roots in many cases will be found to be all dead 

 as far up the ball as the pot stood in the water. No doubt plants of 

 any kind kept in saucers of water will not dry up nearly so quick as 



