THE STRA WBERRT. 509 



have had tiles made of a semicircular form, each with a small semi- 

 circle, about three inches in diameter, cut out of it, so that two of 

 these tiles cover a circular space round the plant ; but not only is this 

 a needless refinement and waste, the tiles being unfit for anything else, 

 and a portion of the ground is left unmulched ; whereas by using com- 

 mon roof tiles the ground can be more completely covered, no extra 

 expense is incurred in their manufacture, and they are as fit for roof- 

 ing, and a variety of other purposes, as if they had never been used for 

 mulching. Cocoa-nut fibre refuse in a coarse state and rough tan are 

 also good and clean material for mulching. Watering is essential to a 

 good crop of strawberries in dry weather, and may be performed on a 

 large scale by the watering-barrel, hose, or the common watering-pot. 

 The best time is the evening or early in the morning, because at these 

 seasons less is lost by evaporation ; and the water should always, if 

 possible, be of a temperature somewhat higher than that of the soil. 

 Some amateurs grow their strawberries in beds having small open 

 brick channels as alleys, and these and the beds being formed on a 

 perfect level, by filling the alleys with water, it penetrates the soil of 

 the beds on each side. Surface irrigation, however, appears preferable, 

 because the soil being warmest there the water will carry down heat 

 to the interior of the soil. Liquid manure or sewage should not be 

 used after the fruit begins to colour. It is of the greatest service 

 through all the early stages of growth ; care should, however, be 

 exercised to keep strong manure-water from direct contact with the 

 fruit, 



Retarding a Crop. This may be done to a certain extent by plant- 

 ing on the north side of an east-and-west wall, or in any situation 

 shaded from the sun, or exposed to the north ; but the most effective 

 mode of procuring a late crop is to remove all the blossoms that would 

 have produced the first crop ; and then, after allowing the plants to 

 receive a check from the dry warm weather which usually occurs in 

 the latter end of June, to supply water abundantly. The Elton Pine 

 planted in clay behind a north wall will continue bearing for two 

 months, and yield a very late crop ; grown thus it is very acid, but is 

 beautiful in form and colour, and can readily be sweetened to the 

 palate with sugar. 



Accelerating a Crop in the Open Garden. This may be done by 

 planting a row close along the base of a wall having a south aspect. 

 The best variety for this purpose is the Black Prince, which has small 

 leaves and an early habit, and which so treated may be made to ripen 

 its fruit towards the end of May. Another mode consists in planting 

 on the south side of an east-and-west ridge of soil. The ridge may be 

 no larger than to admit of a single row, or it may be four feet or five 

 feet high, so as to admit of three or four rows on the south side for 

 accelerating a crop, and an equal quantity on the north side for retard- 

 ing one. If the ground on the south, side is covered with flat tiles, 

 bricks, flints, or pebbles, they will retain moisture, conduct heat to 

 the soil, and reflect it also among the plants. The common calculation, 

 from a ridge at an angle of 45, is a fortnight earlier for the south side, 



