Jalj 29, ISoO. ] 



JOUHNAL OP HORTICULTUEE ANR COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



73 



WEEKLY CALENDAR. 



HINTS TO AMATEURS ON STRAWBERRY 

 CULTURE. 



' ROPESSIONAL ganlaners may he supposed 

 to be quite familiar with the course of treat- 

 ment ^;eiierally adopted to secure a crop of 

 ripe Strawberries in the early spring months, 

 and it wonld be waste of time and space to 

 furtlier alhule to it here. I shall, therefore, 

 address myself to the amateur, who, from not 

 being so favourably placed, either \vith re- 

 gard to knowledge or convenience, as the 

 gardener, often shrinks from the attempt to 

 obtain the Inxnry of a few dishes of ripe Strawberries 

 before tlie fruit comes in from out-door beds. Let me tell 

 him, however, that their oultm'e is both simple and inex- 

 pensive, and tlie reward, according to the labour expended, 

 is more abundant and certain than many people imagine. 



For the better information and convenience of those 

 who think proper to adopt either system. I shall divide 

 my remarks into the culture of plants in pots, and the 

 culture of those planted out, taking pot-culture first. 



It is necessary for very early forcing to secure the 

 earliest runners, but for fruiting in the last fortnight of 

 April, and in May and June, wliich will most likely suit 

 the views and convenience of the amateur, the runners 

 obtainable in the first week in July are very suitable. 

 Prepare as many 3-it-ch pots, though 2-inch pots will do, 

 as there are plants required, by first placing a small pot- 

 sherd over the hole, then filling them rather firmly wth 

 soil, which, according to what experience has taught me, 

 should be a good sound loam that has been laid up for 

 twelve months — I prefer it heavy rather than light, 

 moderately rich, and sifted to facilitate rooting ; this done, 

 secure every plant to the soil either by a pebble, or, which 

 is better, a short peg made from a birch broom. Keep the 

 soil very moist, and do not detach the runners from the 

 parent plants until they are well rooted : then set them in 

 tlie shade for a few days while tliey root still more. Mean- 

 wliile prepare a sufficient quantity of .5 or C-inch pots, and 

 shift the plants into them, using, in addition to the loam 

 above recommended, one-third of rotten manure. The soil 

 sliould not be sifted for this potting, and should be pressed 

 firm. After this the pots should be plunged in beds of 

 convenient size, selecting an open sunny spot upon a hard 

 bottom, covered with coal ashes to prevent worms finding 

 their way into the pots. The plants must have a regular 

 supply of water, and be occasionally turned round to 

 prevent their rooting through. They may stand here 

 until wanted for forcing, but if frost occur, they must be 

 protected with fern or litter, taking it off every favourable 

 day. They will nnder this treatment form large crowns 

 so firmly set in the soil as not to be moveable with the 

 finger and thumb. 



Taking the next method — that of preparing the plants 

 for forcing without pots — select a number of turves where 

 the fibre and the soil adiiere well together, and if 4 inches 

 thick so much the better. Cut them into squares of 4 inches, 

 turn these tnrf-side downwards, scoop a little soil out of 



Mo, 435.— Vol, Xm., New Sbries. 



the top, and fiU the hollow with sifted soil as for pots. 

 Take them to the bed, fix the plants, and otherv.'iae treat 

 them exactly like those in pots until well rooted, when 

 they may be cut from the phmt. Meanwhile prepare a 

 bed of sou 1 foot in depth on a hard bottom, .-iiid large 

 enough to hold the plants at 1 foot apart ; plunge the 

 turves into the bed, and well water when necessary. 

 About the last week in September and twice in Dctober, 

 thrust the spade to its full length midway between every 

 plant ; cut all runners of! as they appear, and protect 

 the plants from frost. If all has gone on well the roots, 

 when the plants are taken up for forcing, will be princi- 

 pally confined to the piece of turf, a circumstance greatly 

 facilitating their remov.il, and contiibuting to their suc- 

 cess iu the fruiting pit. The position for this bed of 

 plants should be open and sunny; if possible more so 

 than that for the pots, on account of the proper ripening 

 of the crowns. 



Having detailed the method of preparing and growing 

 the plants, I nov/ come to forcing and fruitmg them, and 

 as it is not often possible for the amateur to afford sufficient 

 shelf or stage room for many of his plants, I should advise 

 him to grow plants both ways, using the pot plants as the 

 earliest. These when taken in should, in additio'i to the 

 drainage being examined, have all the loose soil taken off 

 the pots, substituting a top-dressing of manure and loam, 

 one-half of each, sifted before use. and pressed firmly on 

 the surface. When the plants are introduced into heat, 

 the fresh roots will penetrate the top-dressing in every 

 possible direction, and prove of great assistance at the 

 time of blooming and setting. 



If Strawberries are wanted iu the end of April, plants 

 should be introduced in the middle of January, and suc- 

 cessionally every fortnight up to the first week iu April. 

 A gentle heat of from 40° to 45° is sufficient at first, but 

 the temperature may be gradually increased to 55° or 60" 

 by tho time the plaats come into bloom, and that tempera- 

 ture should be regularly maintained until ripening; they 

 ouglit then to have the same temperature, but more light 

 and air to improve the flavour. They should always have 

 a place as near the glass as convenient. 



If successions of Strawberries are to be kept up by a 

 batch of those planted out, and there is a hot-water pit, a 

 bed of rough material may be made up, such as will afTprd 

 a gentle bottom heat. After making it of the required 

 height, put a layer of soil 4 inches thick over the bed, 

 then place the plants thickly, with soil around them, and 

 well water, regulating the temperature iu the same way 

 as for those in pots. Should there be no pit, a two or 

 three-light garden frame placed upon a 2-feet bed of heat- 

 ing material, such as a mixture of leaves and a little- 

 manure, will be found %ery useful and suitable. Elevate 

 the frame at the back 1 foot higher than the front ; plant, 

 and regulate the temperature the same as for the hot- 

 water pit. If the weather be fine and warm, the sun will 

 afford sufiicieut heat to gi'ow and ripen the fi'uit ; but if 

 cold, like the past spring, a lining of heating material 

 may be applied with advantage. 



Pay particular attention to watering during growth, aiid. 



No.1037.— VOL.XLII., Old SKSffia. 



