STRAWBERRY. 137 



is at their extremities that they, in common with 

 all plants, take up their nourishment/ He plants 

 in beds of four rows each, with alleys from two 

 feet to two feet and a half between the beds. The 

 stronger growing sorts are set fifteen inches apart 

 between the rows, and the same distance between 

 each plant. The medium- sized growers (Early 

 Virginia) are allowed twelve inches each way; 

 and the smaller growing, such as the Alpine, 

 twelve inches by nine. Shaded and dark situa- 

 tions, or under the drip of trees, although some- 

 times chosen, are unfavorable for this fruit. They 

 ought to be accommodated with an open, airy, and 

 warm exposure. 



" After the plantation is once made, the princi- 

 pal attention required is, keeping the ground free 

 from weeds by repeated hoeing. The practice of 

 Keen is not only to keep the ground clear from 

 weeds, but on no account to allow any other crop 

 to be planted between the rows ; and I recommend 

 (says he) to scatter some loose straw, or long 

 dung, between the rows, as it serves to keep the 

 ground moist, enriches the strawberry, and forms 

 a clean bed for the trusses of fruit to lie upon ; 

 and thus, by a little extra trouble and cost, an 

 abundant crop may be obtained." 



Some cultivators recommend cutting off the 

 leaves of strawberry plants in autumn; while 

 others, with better reason, highly disapprove of 

 this course ; also the practice of digging between 

 the rows in autumn. Knight, and also Young, 

 says, " that this practice of digging shortens the 

 lateral roots, and the plants not only lose the 

 true sap, which such roots abundantly contain, 

 but the organs themselves, which the plants must 

 12* 



