EARLY HISTORY 11 



though it is often done in February. But I have myself 

 transplanted with success when in full bloom. The soil 

 this plant delights in ought to be a fresh loamy sort. If 

 too rich the vines grow rampant, and do not produce the 

 fruit so good as in ground less enriched. All strawberries 

 should be at least a foot distant, but I recommend two 

 feet, to have them in great perfection. They ought to be 

 planted with alleys two feet wide, for the convenience of 

 going between to cleanse them of weeds, very prejudicial 

 to them. In the spring, when your vines are in flower, if it 

 is dry, water them, otherwise their blossoms will drop off. 



"In September you should pull off all the strings, or 

 runners, and every weak plant ; dig up between the beds 

 and strew some fine mould or wood-pile earth between the 

 plants, observing not to cover them with it; this will 

 greatly strengthen them and your fruit will be much larger. 

 They do not last above three years, so that to keep con- 

 stantly supplied you should make a new plantation a year 

 before the old ones are destroyed. The Scarlet straw- 

 berry will come a fortnight sooner than any other sort. 

 The Chili strawberry will grow to the size of a hen's egg. 

 The best dung (if any) for strawberries is that of cows, 

 sheep and pigeons. In order to have them later in 

 season and to afford a succession, cut off the tops of some 

 before they blossom, which will retard their ripening until 

 the forward ones are gone. Many people keep them 

 constantly strung, but I should imagine that wounds them, 

 but in the proper season." 



The "American Gardeners' Calendar," by Bernard 

 McMahon, a nursery-man and seedsman of Philadelphia, 

 was published in 1806. McMahon recognized six kinds : 

 the Scarlet, Hautbois, Chilean, Monthly Alpine, Wood, 

 and "F. Anassa, the Pineapple, together with many others 



