302 VILLA GARDENING I'AKT iii 



planting such kinds as Garibaldi and Vicomtesse de Thiu-y from 

 the forcing pit a good crop in autumn may be gathered. Such 

 early kinds as Black Prince and Vicomtesse (above named) should 

 be planted on a warm south border to come in early, and the 

 Elton Pine should be planted in a partially-shaded border under a 

 west wall or fence for the late crop, and then the Alpines will 

 carry on the season till October. 



Duration of the Beds. — This is mainly a question of local 

 necessity and circmnstance. So long as Strawberries will go on 

 bearing well, except it may be for the piu-pose of rotation, there is 

 but little inducement to remove them. At the same time it must 

 be admitted that, even in those ftxvoural^le situations where the 

 Strawbeny is a long time in wearing out, young strong plants 

 generally bear tlie finest fruit ; and on all soils there is a Umit to 

 profitable dm-atiou. Then, again, some kinds will continue profit- 

 able without change longer than others ; but as soon as any plant- 

 ation shows signs of wearing out, i.e. when the crowns grow 

 weakly and the fruit small, the sooner they are destroyed the 

 better. On really good Strawberry land (a deep rich adhesive 

 loam), if the plants are allowed plenty of space, say a square yard 

 for each plant, I have known Strawberries go on bearing heavy 

 crops for seven years, but usually from three to foiu- is as long as 

 they should remain on the same land. I have known instances 

 where annual planting seemed to be the perfection of culture. In 

 this latter case the Strawberries Averc worked in connection with 

 the early Potatoes, and were followed immediately by late Broc- 

 coU, the latter crop being planted without digging. As a rule 

 light land, unless it can be improved by a dressing of clay, will 

 not carry Strawberries more than three years. It is more profit- 

 able to plant them in lines or rows 2 J or 3 feet apart than to 

 plant in beds. If the necessary attention be given to the young 

 plants thick planting will be found a mistake. Some people plant 

 thickly at first, because the plants are weakly ; but it is better to 

 take more pains with them, and trust to half the number. 



Removal of the Runners — As soon as the required number 

 of plants are secured all runners should be cut oft', as they tend to 

 exhaust the crowns. If young plants are not required the runners 

 shoidd be cut oft" before they attach themselves to the ground. 

 Some cultivators plant a bed specially for their production, remov- 

 ing the trusses of flowers, and where this can be done all the 

 runners should be removed from the beds in bearing. Though it 

 is not much practised, propagation may be carried on by division 

 of the crown of the plants, planting only the strongest of them. 

 In this case no nmners are required, and they may be cut away as 



