STRAWBERRY. 157 



particularly after the fruit is set, and occasionally till it 

 begin to color. The old practice, from which the fruit 

 derives its name, of laying straw between the rows to pre 

 vent the soiling of the fruit, has been recently revived ; and 

 where there are dressed lawns, the short cut grass may be 

 employed for the same purpose. As soon as the fruit sea 

 son is over, the runners are again removed ; the straw or 

 grass is taken away, and the ground hoed and raked. In 

 October the runners, and also the reclining, but not the 

 erect, leaves, are cut away, and the surface of the earth is 

 stirred with a three-pronged fork, great care being taken 

 not to injure the roots. Strawberries may be raised from 

 the same ground for an indefinite space of time, but the 

 plants should be renewed every third or fourth year. In 

 the garden they are generally put in a quarter by them- 

 Jtelves, and it should be one fully exposed to the sun and air. 

 The alpine and wood varieties may be placed in situations 

 rather moist and shady, as edgings in the slips or in rows 

 behind walls and hedges, in which situations they succeed 

 perfectly well, and produce fruit late in the season. 



If strawberries be planted on a good border, in rows a 

 yard asunder, a crop of early peas may be taken between 

 the rows ; and the peas may be succeeded by Cape broc 

 coli, which seems not only not to be hurt by the excretion 

 from the roots of the peas, but to remove any noxious 

 quality thus imparted to the soil. The regular manuring 

 for these crops keeps the strawberries in good vigor. The 

 bed should not occupy the same ground more than three 

 or four consecutive seasons. 



Strawberries have always been a favorite dessert fruit. 

 They likewise form an excellent preserve 5 and from their 

 freedom from excess of acid seem well adapted to the 

 manufacture of home wine. To this purpose they have 



