616 [ THE SMALL FRUITS. 



prevent the fruit from getting soiled, this precaution 

 being more necessary in the case of the Alpine and the 

 English strawberries, the fruit of which more often than 

 not, touches the ground. Watering sh ;>uld be attended to 

 with the utmost care, the beds being watered lightly at 

 least twice a week. Late in autumn or in winter the 

 beds are scraped lightly with a garden rake to remove 

 the dry leaves, and the dry thread-like runners, and the 

 soil is hoed several times to keep it in an open and 

 porous condition. In the case of the Wood and the 

 Alpine strawberry the beds will continue in good bearing 

 condition for three years, but after the third year many 

 plants will die, and new beds will have to be made else- 

 where, leaving the site occupied by the old beds to be 

 availed of for other cultivations. In fact, strawberry 

 beds should not be made on the same site where other 

 beds had stood, before the lapse of three or four years, 

 thus allowing time for the poison left in the soil by the 

 former plants to disappear. 



The pots for the cultivation of English strawberries 

 should not be less than 30 c.m. in diameter, and as 

 much in depth, with thick sides to keep up the required 

 degree of moisture for the roots and to protect these 

 from injury from overheating by the sun's rays. Each pot 

 should not have more than four or five plants, a good 

 layer of crocks should be placed at the bottom of the 

 pot to secure perfect drainage, and the compost should 

 be a rich mixture of 2 parts of red soil of the best 

 quality and one part of old manure The best manure 

 for this purpose is pig's manure, as it will pro\ oke a very 

 vigorous growth, without any danger from overdosing. 

 The pots should be stood in a sheltered and rather 

 shaded situation, and when the plants are in active 

 vegetation and begin to bloom profusely, they should 

 be \\atered daily, as any deficiency of moisture will 

 reduce the production of fruit, and brings about an early 



