MARCH] THE FRUIT GARDEN. 233 



The proper sets for planting are the young offsets and runner 

 plants of the last summer, which procure, of the strongest stocky 

 growth, from beds of good plants that are in full perfection for bear- 

 ing, and not from worn-out stools, taking them up with good roots. 



Prepare for these plants a piece of good ground, either in the 

 main quarters or in the borders ; if loamy the better ; and let some 

 rotten dung be dug in. If in the main quarters, divide the ground 

 into beds four feet wide, with alleys eighteen inches wide between 

 them, or they may be planted in continued rows in the borders. 

 Plant the strawberries of the scarlet kind fifteen inches asunder, and 

 allow the same distance between plant and plant in the rows. But 

 the large kinds, such as the hautboy and Chili, should be planted 

 eighteen inches distant every way. 



The Alpine or prolific strawberry, should likewise be planted 

 fifteen or eighteen inches distant every way, that there may be room 

 for their runners to spread and take root ; this kind of strawberry 

 being different in its manner of bearing from the others, for the run- 

 ners often yield the largest and fairest fruit ; this kind continues 

 bearing ripe fruit from the latter end of May to October. 



A farther supply of bearing strawberry plants in pots may still be 

 placed in hot-beds and hot-houses, &c., to produce a succession of 

 early fruit, and to afford a sufficient supply till those in the open 

 ground ripen. 



STRAWBERRY TILES. 



A refinement in strawberry culture may be practised with advan- 

 tage where expense is no object, a, a bed of young strawberry plants 

 with the tiles placed around them, b shows the end of a bed, with 



Fig. 23. 



the tiles placed down without the plants, c shows the end of a bed 

 with the fruit and foliage upon the tiles. It would be injurious to 

 the plants to place these tiles around the plants early in the season, 

 as they would deprive them of rain during the growing season ; but, 

 just as the blossom is appearing, it is an advantage, as the fruit 

 would lie dry and clean on the upper surface. These tiles are so 

 constructed, on flange-like edges, as to give a good circulation of air 

 below. . 



