126 FRUIT BOOK. 



Some cultivators recommend cutting off the leaves 

 of strawberry plants in autumn ; while others, with 

 better reason, highly disapprove of this course, as 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 depend upon for supplies of new food in the 

 spring, must be, to a considerable extent, destroyed." 

 Strawberry beds in this latitude should be covered 

 in the fall with leaves, straw, litter, or seaweed ; this 

 last article we have used in preference- to any other 

 material, as it is not subject to heat and rot, and is 

 more easily removed in the spring. 



The method of cultivating the strawberry in hills 

 we approve, particularly for the larger growing varie- 

 ties. Cutting off the runners as they appear ; the 

 roots will, under this treatment, throw out a greater 

 quantity of fruit, and larger berries. This course of 

 culture is peculiarly well adapted for a weedy soil, 

 as these are more easily eradicated from around the 

 plants. 



THE GOOSEBERRY. 



The Gooseberry, in its wild or uncultivated state, 

 is found in most countries of Europe, as also in this 

 country. They have increased in size under culti- 

 vation, and the varieties are now so extensive, that 

 their names alone would occupy more space than 



