FARMERS GARDENS. 353 



In trimmiug cut the wood as low as possible ; if buds are left ou tlie stump 

 they will immediately throw out sprouts. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



There is perhaps no fruit that grows so universally in every part of the 

 world as the strawberry. It is found in the snowy regions of the north and 

 on the sunny plains of the south. It grows in the valley, and creeps to the 

 summit of the hill. It is a universal favorite with all races of men. 



On a suitable soil strawberries are immensely prolific ; as many bushels of 

 them as of potatoes may be raised on an acre. One hundred and fifty bushels 

 have been taken from an acre in a single season. No strawberry has a higher 

 or richer flavor than the common wild fruit ; but by cultivation they haA' e be- 

 come much larger and more prolific. By raising them from seed many fine 

 and large varieties have been obtained. New kinds are brought forward every 

 year. Berries of an inch in diameter are not uncommon in the market. 



Strawberries are fond of a moist, rich loam, and thrive best where they have 

 plenty of water. They may be set in the spring or autumn. I have had the 

 best success with them set in the spring. The soil should be deep and mellow 

 and well filled with fine compost. Set the plants about eighteen inches apart 

 in rows, and give them clean culture. If it is intended to grow them upon the 

 same spot for two or three years, the runners should be cut off as they shoot 

 out, and the ground be kept loose with the hoe. A favorite method Avith some 

 gardeners is to set the plants in roAVS two feet apart, and cultivate lettuce, rad- 

 ishes, or early beets in the spaces between them. These are removed about 

 the time the fruit ripens ; the runners are alloAved to groAv, and are directed 

 into the • vacant places. After one crop has ripened, the old roots are taken 

 out with the spade, and the new roots made by the runners are cultivated for 

 the next crop. Thus alternate roAvs are produced. The new roots are thought 

 to give the finest berries. Many belicA-e this to be the easiest and best mode 

 of culture, aud the success obtained by it in the vicinity of Boston seems to 

 justify this belief. Some cultivators receive a thousand dollars per acre for the 

 crop. 



The land should receive a liberal dressing of stable manure in the autumn, 

 and the plants be covered with leaves, sea weed, or pine boughs. In the 

 spring remove the mulching, and work the ground AA'ith the fork, taking care 

 not to disturb the roots. Some gardeners use liquid manure in straAvberry cul- 

 ture. Two or three pounds of guano to a barrel of Avater Avill make a fertilize i" 

 that may be applied Avith decided advantage. Remarkable effects are some- 

 times produced by the application of sulphate of ammonia, sulphate of soda, 

 nitrate of soda, or nitrate of potash dissoh'ed in a large quantity of Avater. 

 This should be applied with the Avatering pot, about the time the fruit begins 

 to set, and may be continued once a Aveek Avhile the plants are in bearing. 

 An abundant supply of Avater is the best means of prolonging the bearing sea- 

 son. When irrigation is practicable, streams of water should be led between 

 the rows until the soil is well saturated, and the process repeated once in four 

 or five days. It has been stated that by this means strawberries haA'e been 

 kept in bearing three months. Fortunately different cultiA'ators select different 

 kinds, each according to his taste, and thus many varieties are brought into use. 

 Almost every section of country has its fa\'orites. Among the good varie- 

 ties I will mention a few : Hovey's Seedling, Burr's New Pine, Brighton Pine, 

 Scott's Seedling, Wilson's Albany, Bunco's Seedling, Tricmphe de Gand, Scarlet 

 Magnate, Diadem, Eclipse, Minerva, Imperial Scarlet, Florence, Prince's, Sirius, 

 Primate, Longworth's Prolific. 



29 A 



