278 GARDENING. 



plantations of these, and never from old plants. 

 Sow in beds of three or four rows, with alleys be- 

 tween the beds to walk and work in. When the 

 planting is finished, keep the bed free from weeds, 

 and permit no crops between the rows. When the 

 runners begin to show themselves, cut them away 

 at least three times in the season ; and at each cut- 

 ting dig the ground between the rows ; and as of- 

 ten, cover the surface with a sprinkling of clean 

 straw,* for the purpose, principally, of preventing 

 evaporation. One of these cuttings must be done a 

 short time before the fruit ripens, and will have a 

 powerful effect in strengthening the root ; and, at 

 the second digging, work into the rows a little half- 

 rotted dung." 



To these remarks, which apply to all the varieties 

 alike, Mr. Keans subjoins a few specific notices as 

 follows : 



" 1. For the Pine strawberry the best soil is a 

 light loam, though no other strawberry will bear a 

 strong loam better than this. This is the sort from 

 which it is most difficult to obtain a good crop. 

 Particular care must be taken that they are planted 

 in open ground; for in small gardens they grow 

 strong, but seldom bear fruit, in consequence of being 

 shaded by standard trees, and, under walnut-trees in 

 in particular, they run altogether to leaf. In planting 

 pines I keep the beds two feet apart, and put the 

 plants eighteen inches from each other in the rows, 

 leaving three feet alleys between the beds. The 

 first year of the pine is the best ; the second gives 

 a good crop, but the third gives less. 



" 2. The Scarlet must be treated like the Pine, 

 excepting that the rows may be a little nearer to- 

 gether, and the alleys between them a little less. 



" 3. The Hautboy thrives best in a light soil well 

 supplied with dung ; for excess of manure does not 



* It is from this practice that the plant derives its name. 



