CULTIVAION OF THE STRAWBERRY. 



surprised at the effects produced, where the meteorological chances and the range of them, 

 are so much more sudden and extensive as they are in this country, when compared with 

 England. One of the material diiferences which operates prejudicially upon this fruit in 

 this climate, is the much gieater rapidity of the change from the intense cold of winter to 

 the heat of sun)mer. The strawberry, when roused from its dormant state in spring, re- 

 quires but moderate warmth to develope its flower stalk and bloom, and again, but a 

 slight addition to that heat lo swell and ripen its fruit. Then, again, when it is in bloom 

 and the fruit is just setting, it lequires an ample supply of water; and this, in England, 

 it generally gets, and the size of the fruit is very decidedly less if the spring there happens 

 to be dry and hotter than in ordinary yeai-s. I can see no reason, however, why gentle- 

 men in this country, who have greenhouses and other plant structures, should not grow 

 strawberries early in the year in pots, and produce fruits equally fine in every particular 

 with that which is grown in the same way in England; because, in those circumstances, 

 the heat of the house can be regulated so as to avoid the prejudicial natural effects which 

 here operate upon them under open air cultivation. I propose, therefore, to give you the 

 system which I pursued as an amateur when in England, (and it is the same as is usually 

 adopted by the gardeners round London, who force this fruit for the early spring market) 

 and by which I had always fruit fully ripe bythe second or third week in April. 



I must first make, however, a remark upon the varieties of the stawberry to be used. 

 Upon the whole, no variety is found so useful, all things considered, for the earliest crop 

 of fruit as the true Kean's Seedling; (for there are many round London not true;) this will 

 bear more heat in forcing without loss of flavor, or in quantity, than any other. The 

 usual plan adopted by growers of moderate extent, is either to confine themselves to this 

 variety, and Myatt's British Queen, or to grow their principal stock of these two varie- 

 ties. There is no question about it, that in England no variety can compare to the British 

 Queen, either for size, flavor, or product; but it will not submit to be rapidly forced, and 

 in the open ground, it is impatient of too much rain, which will injure its flavor and also 

 cause it to burst when just ripe. The flavor of this variety there, is exactly like a straw- 

 berry and pine apple combined; and as regards size, I have seen twelve strawberries ex- 

 hibited which weighed one pound avordupoise; and I will undertake to say that a person 

 walking through London, the end of June or beginning of July, may, without difficulty, 

 at any fruit store, find this variety averaging from 16 to 20 berries to the pound. I be- 

 lieve it to be perfectly possible to grow it here in the same perfection, and simply by trying 

 the following plan which (as befure stated) is tliat pursued in England: 



In the month of August, small pots measuring two or three inches diameter are filled 

 with good loam, and placed upon or sunk to their rims in a strawberry plantation; a run- 

 ner is placed on the top of each pot, and a stone put upon it to keep it there. These are 

 watered occasionally, if dry weather, and in six weeks the plant will have filled this 

 small pot with its roots. It is then cut off from the mother plant and immediately re- 

 potted, of course without breaking the ball of roots, into a pot six inches diameter, in good 

 rich loam, not sandy, if it can be had, (f)r in that I have seen the best fruit grown) and 

 if not, then into a compost of the best garden soil that can be got, and old hot-bed manure, 

 half and half. The pots are then placed in a situation where they get the morning sun 

 only, and being kept moderately waterd they remain until the end of the year. 



About the first week in January, these pots are brought into the green-house or forcing 

 house, and placed upon a shelf close to the glass. This is essential: success must not be 



pected, unless they are kept uj) at the top of the house, and feeders, or pans for 

 placed under each. At first, they mnst not be subjected to much heat; only 



