1 68 Commercial Gardening 



first batch of plants should be brought into the houses early in January, 

 and if a continuous supply of ripe fruit is desired, batches should be 

 brought in every three weeks. They are best accommodated in a house 

 by themselves. In most places, however, shelves in early Peach houses 

 and vineries are utilized for the purpose of growing Strawberries. 



A temperature of 50 F. is ample to start with, and as the days lengthen 

 from 5 to 10 degrees extra may be given, but a high night temperature 

 from fire heat is very harmful. 



The plants should be syringed when the other occupants of the house 

 require it; but in naturally damp houses, without stone or brick floors, 

 syringing is not necessary. 



When the plants are first brought in, allow them to stand for a few 

 days to dry; also see that the drainage is good, and make each plant firm 

 in its pot. When the bloom trusses appear, spread a layer of well-rotted 

 manure on the shelf and stand the pots on it, pointing all the trusses of 

 flower to come one way towards the light. 



The plants will soon root into the manure through the drainage holes, 

 and the flower trusses will be thrown well up from the pots. 



At this stage a pinch of some good fertilizer to each plant will be found 

 very beneficial. When the plants are in flower the atmosphere should be 

 kept in a buoyant condition by opening the ventilators a little, and the 

 flowers should be fertilized with a camel-hair pencil or rabbit's tail, doing 

 this when the pollen is dry, generally about midday. When a sufficient 

 number of flowers have set to ensure a good crop, the others should be 

 cut off" at once. This will concentrate the energies of the plant into swell- 

 ing the fruits. 



Before the fruit gets too heavy to bend the stems, the trusses should 

 be kept up by running a string on a few sticks along the front of the row 

 of plants. This will be found much better than tying each plant up 

 separately. Where, however, several rows are grown on a stage, it is 

 better to tie each plant up. 



The soil must not be allowed to get dry, and the plants should be well 

 fed at alternate waterings with some good stimulant, and all syringing 

 and damping should cease as soon as the fruit shows signs of colouring. 



Gathering is best done when the fruit is quite dry, and if it has to be 

 sent by rail, pack in shallow boxes, one layer deep only. The fruit should 

 not be allowed to get too ripe, and should be graded into best and seconds, 

 which will be found better than mixing large and small fruits together. 



If the fruit is sold locally, it may be packed in |-lb. punnets with a 

 lining of fresh leaves to make the "berries" look attractive. 



A good paying crop of strawberries can often be secured from plants 

 without any fire heat whatever. The plants should be put into the houses 

 or in pits at the beginning of March, and allowed to grow on naturally. 

 Ripe fruit will be available just before the outdoor crop comes in, and if 

 the weather is hot prices sometimes run very high. 



Instead of putting the plants into their fruiting pots in August, they 



