STRAWBEEEIES. 



better; for the strawberry requires a great quantity of moisture and the roots will seek 

 it to a great distance if the ground be in a good condition to allow them. Besides 

 deep and rich soil, ample provision should be made to water them at the time when 

 the fruit is swelling and dry weather almost sure to prevail, A sprinkling of water is 

 of no use — a good drenching to the very rootlets is required once a week at least. Then, 

 all the time, from the moment the plantation is made, the ground must be kept clean 

 and all surplus runners likely to weaken the bearing plants removed. As the fruit 

 begins to color, some straw, or other material, should be laid on the ground around 

 the plants to keep the berries clean so that they may go to the table as they come from 

 the plant, with their color and flavor unimpaired by such an outlandish process as wash- 

 ing. Then, with all this treatment, the beds must be renewed as often as once in 

 three years at least, and in doing this we recommend choosing, when practicable, 

 new ground. We have firm faith in the wisdom of rotation in these matters. 



Now there is nothing new in all this, nothing but what good cultivators have 

 known and practiced for half a century, or more for aught we know ; but it is some- 

 times well to call attention even to such old and homely truths. \Ye might cull from 

 the \^ritings of the day on this subject, any number of prescriptions and recipes, but 

 as we have tried few of them, and as in our own practice we have not found them 

 necessary, we must leave it to those who choose to search them out and apply them. 

 In nine cases out of ten, people will succeed better by practicing well what they know 

 than by following doubtful experiments ; this remark we intend for the man of culti- 

 vation. Of course, we can not but regard with interest all eftbrts of zealous men to 

 improve upon old methods, and to discover new and valuable fertilizers ; what w'e 

 mean is, that in common practice no novelty should be followed until its merits have 

 been thoroughly canvassed, and well authenticated. 



" When is the proper time, or rather the best time, to plant strawberries ?" is a 

 question we are often asked. AVe have no hesitation in recommending the spring — 

 the month of April, or the beginning of May, in the north, as the surest. The plants 

 at that season are well-rooted, and there is scarcely the slightest risk of a failure. If 

 the ground has been well prepared, and they are well attended to during the season, 

 a fair crop may be had the following spring. By planting in August or September, 

 a crop may be had a year sooner, but it will necessarily be a light one, and there is 

 a great risk on account of the warm and dry weather so prevalent in these months. 

 To plant at this season with success, the plants must be well rooted, and the ground 

 thoroughly wet with rain or otherwise before planting. To plant in dry earth, and 

 sprinkle after planting, is a mere waste of plants and time. Amateurs who have the 

 plants on their own grounds, should take the strongest runners as soon as rooted and 

 transplant them into a shaded, cool border, and there allow them to remain until well 

 fixed in the ground, wdien they can be taken up in a moist time with some earth about 

 the roots and transferred to their permanent situation ; the greater certainty of this 

 method will amply repay its extra expense. Even when plants are purchased, it will 



^ generally be found safer to plant them temporarily in a cool border until re-rooted, and ^ 



X\ then remove them with earth to the open, permanent beds 



