THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 199 
AMONG THE STRAWBERRY BEDS. 
BY J. E. SAUNDERS, ESQ. 
SHE strawberry crop -is not over-abundant this year, 
although the quality is good, for the weather has not 
been characterized by that warmth and geniality 
we usually expect during May and June. The rain 
fall of May—the month of all others in which the 
strawberry plant requires an abundance of water to assist it in the 
development of foliage and flower-trusses—has been very small, so 
small, indeed, that it only amounted 0-286 in., which, it need hardly 
be said, is very much below the average. The temperature has 
been very low; and the easterly winds, which prevailed for so long 
a period, appeared, as it were, to take the life out of plants 
making new growth. We have done somewhat better than many 
of our neighbours, for we have access to a tank of liquid manure, 
in a farm-yard near at hand, and we have not been sparing of its 
contents. Moreover, the surface of the beds is covered with litter 
from the stable, which forms a more effectual mulch than clean 
straw; and the fertilizing properties washed out of it by the rains 
and artificial waterings, have afforded the plants material support. 
Many people object to covering strawberry beds with litter from 
the stable, because of their fearing that the flavour of the fruit 
undergoes some amount of deterioration in consequence ; but the 
fears entertained are quite groundless, provided the beds are 
covered sufficiently early for the unpleasant odour to pass away 
before the fruit approaches maturity. I have my beds covered just 
as the flower trusses commence to push up, and, consequently, by 
the time the fruit commences to ripen, the litter is quite free from 
all offensive smell, and, in fact, from everything likely to injure the 
fruit in the least degree. The longest litter only is employed; and 
for some time previous to its being wanted we commence to prepare 
a supply, and this is done by shaking it free from the short stuff as 
it comes from the stable, and then putting it in a neat stack, where 
it can be covered with a tarpauling when rain is expected. Short 
grass has been tried several seasons, but it is so objectionable that 
I have determined to employ it no more. If the weather sets in 
wet, the grass decays, and the offensive odour is communicated to 
the fruit, to which, also, the grass adheres. If the weather bappens 
to be dry, with an occasional shower, the grass shrivels up; and 
when the strawberries are moistened by dews or rains, they pick up 
the withered grass, and some difficulty is experienced in removing it. 
I have a great objection to strawberries that have been handled 
much ; and, when dining out, invariably decline them when they 
are dished up to form a cone, with the tops of the fruit pointing out- 
wards, for I am quite aware that they cannot be packed up in this 
manner without passing through the hand several times. Straw- 
berries, to my mind, are never so delicious as when eatea direct 
from the bed, just before the sun has acquired much power. We 
July. 
