STRAWBERRIES AND THEIR NUTRITION. 



holds a second and very important position. At the same time the united analyses of plant 

 and fruit exhibit as the proportion of potash 59.72, and that of soda only 36.28. 



Jlffirmative of the general rule. I stated last year, under the head of specific inorgan- 

 ic manures, that many stravvberr}^ plants apparentlj'' demand varied specific nutrition, as 

 much so as different families of trees. A large bed was prepared and divided into three 

 equal portions ; one containing pofas/i neutralized by muck; another ashes treated in the 

 same manner; and last phosphate of lime (bone dust.) Lines of the same plants extend- 

 ed across the three soils. Boston Pine, Crimson Cone, Iowa, Burr's Seedling, Columbus, 

 Rival Hudson, Late Prolific, Willey, British Queen, Myatt's Eliza, Victoria, Huntsman's 

 Pistillate, Scarlet Melting, Ohio Mammoth, and Scioto, displayed a sturdy growth through- 

 out this entire triple tract; at the same time they exhibited a positive preference for the 

 potash over the ashes; for the ashes over the bone dust. The section of the triple tract, 

 charged with potash, manifests an advantage this season much more conspicuous, the 

 plants and the fruits having gained at least one-fourth over their associates. 



Exceptional to the general rule. Directly opposed to the preceding results, however. 

 Black Prince and Burr's New Pine became almost worthless in the same potash tract; 

 while runners of 1850, transferred from these same plants to the natural soil of my 

 grounds, well enriched with ordinary stable manure and street sweepings, have this year 

 produced specimens of fruit nearly if not quite equal to their best reputation. Buist's 

 Prize, also failed under potash nutrition, and developed the richest foliage and finest fruit 

 in the department of phosphate of lime (bone dust.) Hovey's Seedling failed in a tract 

 of phosphate of lime, yet rejoiced, with its luxuriant foliage and fruit, in a tract of soil 

 supplied with lime as its main element. 



William Cullen Bryant, Esq., who is equally at home, either in his town editorial 

 chair, amid classic folios or political theses, or among strawberries or potatoes, at his cot- 

 tage, so pleasantly nestling in the groves of Roslyn, has garnered into his pomological 

 storehouse an extract which is quite pertinent at this moment : 



Strawberries. — The following recipe for keeping old strawberry beds in bearing, is 

 from the Eriend's Review, a Philadelphia publication. AVhat proportion of its efficacy 

 depends on the frequent and regular watering, and what on the application of the nitre 

 and glauber's .salt seems uncertain: 



" Those who know anything about the magnificent strawberries and the immense quan- 

 tity of them raised in a bed 30 feet by 40, for several years past, in the garden formerly 

 owned b}' me in King street, may like to know the process by which I cultivated them. I 

 applied about once a week, for three times, commencing when the green leaves first began 

 to start, and making the last application just before the plants were in full bloom, the 

 following preparation: of nitre, of potash, of glauber's salt, and sal soda, each, one 

 pound ; of niirate of ammonia one-quarter of a pound — dissolving in thirty gallons of rain or 

 river water. One-third was applied at a time; and when the weather was dry I applied 

 clear soft water between the times of using the preparation — as the gi-owth of the young 

 leaves is so rapid that unless well supplied with water the sun will scorch them. I used 

 a common watering pot and made the application towards evening. Managed in this way 

 there is never anj'^ necessit}^ of digging over the bed or setting it out anew. Beds of ten 

 years old are not only as good, but better than those two or three years old. But you 

 must be sure and keep the weeds out." — Evening Post. 



Here it will be perceived that, of four equally proportioned ingredients, two are formed 

 of potash, i.e. potash and nitre (nitrate of potash;) and two of soda, i.e. glauber's salt 

 (sulphate of soda) and sal soda (carbonate of soda.) 



Prof. J. F. W. Johnston, on page 328, of his "Agricultural Chemistry," in discoursing 

 of carbonate of potash and carbonate of soda, states: "Many experiments have 

 that both of these substances may be employed in the field with advantage to the 



