CHAP, xii VILLA GARDENING 301 



well-pulverised condition. It is best to plant when the land is dry 

 on the siuface, as then the soil can be pressed firmly round the 

 roots of the plants without making it hard or pasty. 



Obtaining the Plants. — I have already referred to the good 

 work which plants that have been forced are capable of doing wlien 

 planted out in July. In the majority of instances, under good 

 management, such plants are not much exhausted by forcing, and 

 when allowed plenty of space (not less than 2 feet apart) will yield 

 heavy crops. But good crops of Strawberries may be obtained the 

 first year from young jDlants, if pains are taken with them. They 

 should be layered into small pots as early as the runners can be 

 obtained ; in fact, treat them in the same way as we do the plants 

 raised for forcing, and which generally gives such excellent results. 

 It is only a question of obtaining the plants early and planting 

 early. Neither is it necessary always to lay them in pots. I have 

 raised good plants by laying down little mounds of rich soil, and 

 pegging the runners on the heaps. By the latter plan the plants, 

 when sufficiently rooted, are taken straight to the bed and planted, 

 pressing the soil about them firmly, and gi"ving a good watering, 

 which, if the weather is dry, must be repeated till the plants are 

 established. The best time to plant is in July ; and the earlier 

 good plants can be obtained and set out the better, if we want to 

 gather a good crop for the following year. In late districts, where 

 the July planting cannot be carried out, the plants shoidd be laid 

 in, 6 inches apart in a nursery bed till spring — say as early in 

 March as the season will permit the land to be got into condition. 

 The plants may then be lifted with balls from the nursery bed, 

 and planted in rows 2| feet apart, and 1 foot from plant to 

 plant in the rows. Every alternate plant in the rows will be cut 

 up after the first crop has been gathered. In the meantime, the 

 first year — as soon as the Strawberries are disposed in their places 

 — two rows of Onions should be sown between each two rows of 

 Strawberries. The Onions will do no harm to the Strawberries, 

 as they do not shade injuriously ; and the second year the Straw- 

 berries will require all the land. The Onions are a catch croji, to 

 pay for labour and rent, till the Strawberries come into bear- 

 ing. To prevent propagation from any but fertile plants, all those 

 which are unfruitful should be pulled up as soon as their character 

 is noticed, and an eye should be kept upon the bed for the piu-pose 

 of detecting barren plants, as the unwary may— in foct do — propa- 

 gate from inferior ones, being tempted by the deceptive strength 

 of the runners which spring therefrom. By a judicious choice of 

 kinds, aided by a carefid selection of aspects suitable for diSerent 

 varieties, the Strawberry season may be much prolonged, and by 



