CHAPTER IX. 



THE STRAWBERRY. 



IN the cultivation of this early and delicious fruit, the requisites 

 for success are chiefly : 



1. A good, deep, rich soil. 



2. Clean cultivation between the rows. 



3. A renewal by planting as often as the vigor of the plants de- 

 clines. 



4. Selection of suitable varieties. 



Soil. Any deep, rich soil, which will afford fine crops of corn 

 and potatoes is well adapted to the cultivation of the Strawberry. 

 To be uniformly productive, it must be deeply trenched, either by 

 the spade or by double ploughing, and well enriched with manure. 

 Fine crops, it is true, may be obtained without trenching, but not 

 in such excellence, profusion, or certainty, in all seasons. It rarely, 

 but sometimes happens that the soil is made too rich. The usual 

 error is the reverse. 



Strawberries are increased by rooted runners, which are usually 

 thrown out from the plants soon after bearing, and they root late 

 in summer and in autumn. These new plants succeed best if set 

 out the following spring ; but strong plants may be set out in autumn 

 in light soils, or in heavier soils if the roots are carefully spread out 

 and the earth trodden compactly. 



Transplanting. Early in the spring is the best season for setting 

 out strawberries. If the work is done well they will bear a mode- 

 rate crop the same season, and a heavy one the next. The best 

 plants are the well rooted runners from last autumn. They should 

 be well taken up, so as to secure all the fibres, lifting the roots out 

 with a spade and shaking the earth carefully from them ; if pulled 



