SPIRIT OF THE MONTHLIES, 845 



[From the Ohio Cultivator.] 



PLANTING STRAWBERRIES. 



Every body loves strawberries, and the man who has a garden or 

 a few yards of ground that can be appropriated to the purpose, and 

 does not plant a good bed of strawberries, does not deserve to taste 

 any thing belter than "pork and dodger," during his mortal life ! 

 Don't you say so, boys, girls, ladies, all? Well, then, why don't 

 you make a stir about it, and keep a stirring till the object is accom- 

 plished ? Not quite yet, however; for the ground is too dry, and the 

 sun too hot. But the latter part of September, or the fore part of 

 October, as soon as the ground is well moistened through, and the 

 heat of summer is over, is a first rate time to set out the plants. 

 They will take root immediately, will bear considerably next spring, 

 and abundantly the spring following. 



If there is room for choice, select good deep loamy soil, rather" 

 inclining to sand than clay, and where it is well exposed to sun and 

 air. Apply a heavy coat of rotted manure, from the stable or hog- 

 pen, or both (mixed), and dig the ground deeply, burying the ma- 

 nure eight to ten inches deep ; rake it smooth, and it is ready for 

 planting. 



Select plants from runners of this year's growth, and from beds 

 that are young or in a healthy bearing state, otherwise many of 

 them will be apt to prove barren and useless. As to the kinds, get 

 any of the good sorts in cultivation that can be found in your town 

 or neigliborhood, and plant two or three kinds near together if you 

 can get them, as they will assist in impregnating each other, and a 

 larger crop will be obtained. If plants are to be obtained from a 

 nurseryman, any of the following will be found excellent (the first 

 named is finest of all, but should never be planted far separate from 

 other kinds). Hovey's Seedling, Large Early Scarlet, Hudson's, 

 Ross's, Phoenix, Keen's Seedling, Elton, Myatt's Seedlings ; and for 

 variety and late bearing, a few of the Red and White Alpine or 

 Monthly. 



In planting, set them in rows about tw^o feet apart, and eighteen 

 inches apart in the row. Or, if beds are desired, make the beds 

 four feet wide, and set three rows on each ; then leave an alley not 

 less than two and a half feet wide between the beds. Keep clear of 

 weeds, and if more plants are not desired, cut off the runners three 

 or four times a year. A thin sprinkling of lettuce or radish seed may 

 be sown on the beds the first year, but afterwards the strawberries 

 will need all the space. It is a good plan to cover the surface be- 

 tween the rows with straw or hay at the time of fruiting in the 

 spring, to keep the fruit clean, and partially to protect against 

 drought. 



