THE STRAWBERRY BOOK. 



CHAPTER I. 



ON MANURES AND PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. 



NOTHING marks the different kinds of strawberries 

 more strikingly than their behavior with regard to the 

 soils in which they succeed or fail. The wild native 

 strawberry grows and ripens its little berries in the poor- 

 est and dryest soil, where our choicer kinds would quickly 

 come to nought. 



Taking this as the lowest point, we find next above it, 

 in regard to poverty of soil, such kinds as the Scotch 

 Runner, the Downer's Prolific, and the Cutter's Seedling. 

 These will all grow and do passably well in a light, poor 

 soil. I have had a bed of Downer's Prolific that made a 

 very decent show of fruit in very light, poor ground after 

 three years of total neglect. 



The Agriculturist, although, to be sure, it loves a good 

 soil, will do very well in light, sandy land, as will the 

 Brooklyn Scarlet, the Scarlet Magnate, and French's 

 Seedling. 



Hovey's Seedling (and fine fibrous-rooted kinds gener- 

 ally), Triomphe de Gand, Jucunda, President Wilder, 

 and, in short, our best large varieties, love a rich, deep, 

 and mellow soil, and one that is a little moist ; while for 

 La Constante, the Bicton and Elton Pines, Haquin, Dr. 



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