THE GARDEN WEEK BY WEEK 



Feb. addition to whatever yard manure is used, and a special 

 ^ point should be made of using this valuable chemical 

 fertiliser on light soil, which is probably poor in potash. 

 Although Strawberries are often planted among fruit 

 trees, in order to make some use of the ground while 

 the trees are growing up, it is more convenient to form 

 a bed of them, because of strawing the rows when the 

 fruit has formed. Growers agree as to the desirability 

 of giving Strawberry plants plenty of room, and gene- 

 rally plant them thirty inches apart by eighteen. When 

 small plants are put in late, and do not promise to fill 

 out their space the first year, it is permissible to grow 

 Lettuces and Onions between the rows for one year ; 

 but in case of doubt the amateur should always err on 

 the safe side, and give the Strawberries all the room. 



Good Strawberries 

 Royal Sovereign Reward Laxton's Latest 



The first named is as valuable for forcing in pots 

 as for forming an outdoor bed, and I may take the 

 opportunity of saying that those who have strong plants 

 in pots — plants with a plump central " crown," not little 

 tufts with three or four leaves only — may put them into 

 a house now. A temperature of 60° to 65° is advisable, 

 but where the amateur has a cool house and a warm 

 one, or a cold frame and a heated house, it is wise to put 

 the plants into the cooler place for a fortnight, and so 

 prepare them for the warmer conditions. With strong 

 plants, and plenty of heat, there is a natural temptation 

 to push the plants on as fast as possible, but hard forcing 

 sometimes results in the plants refusing to bloom. They 

 are benefited by a very light position, such as a shelf 

 close to the roof glass. The worst that can happen to 

 them there is that the soil may become dry, and this 

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