F R A 



F R A 



perfectly ripened, either in the spring or autumn 

 season, on a bed of light earth, or in pots 

 placed in the shade. 



After the plants have been set out as above, 

 and taken new root, care is necessary, if the 

 winterprove severe, to lay some old tanner's bark 

 over the surface of the bed between the plants, 

 to keep out the frost : this is absolutely necessary 

 in the Chili sort, as the plants are frequently 

 killed in hard winters when exposed without 

 any covering: where tanner's bark cannot be easi- 

 ly "procured, 'saw -dust, or sea-coal ashes may be 

 used ; or even the decayed leaves of trees, or the 

 branches of evergreen-trees with their leaves upon 

 them laid over the beds. 



In the following summer the plants should 

 be constantly kept clean from weeds, and all the 

 runners be pulled off as fast as they are produced ; 

 as where this is constantly practised the plants 

 become very strong by the following autumn; 

 but when neglected, and the runners permitted 

 to stand during the summer, and then pulled off" 

 in the autumn, they are not half so strong, nor 

 will there be near the same quantity ol fruit 

 upon them the following spring, or so large and 

 fine. Where proper care is taken of the plants 

 the first summer, there is generally a plentiful 

 supply of fruit the second spring after planting. 



When the plants are in blossom, if the wea- 

 ther prove dry, good waterings given occasion- 

 ally prove very beneficial in promoting a plenti-. 

 i'ul production of fruit, but in other cases it is 

 unnecessary. 



In the general culture of this sort of fruit, as 

 the old plants are those which produce the fruit, 

 the suckers seldom affording any till of a full 

 year's growth, it is obviously necessary to divest 

 them of them, as when suffered to remain they 

 rob the fruitful plants of their nourishment in 

 proportion to their number; and, besides, the 

 suckers render each other weak, and thus cause 

 barrenness. In the Alpine sorts the summer 

 runners should not however be removed as they 

 produce fruit. 



Where the old plants are constantly kept 

 clear from suckers, they sometimes continue 

 fruitful four or rive years without being replant- 

 ed. It is, however, a good way to have a suc- 

 cession of beds, that alter three years standing 

 they may be taken up, as by that time they have 

 mostly exhausted the ground. This sort of 

 plants are also in general more productive on 

 new land. 



After having been thus cut and managed in 

 the summer season, it will be necessary in au- 

 tumn not only agcin to divest them of these 

 si rings or runners, but of all the decayed leaves, 

 and to clear the beds from weeds; then the paths 



should be dug up, and the weeds buried, some 

 earth being laid over the surface of the beds be- 

 tween the plants, which will strengthen them 

 and prepare them for the following spring ; and 

 if after this there be some old tanner's bark laid 

 over the surface, of the ground between the 

 plants, it will he of great service to them. In 

 the spring', when the danger of hard frost is 

 over, as in March, the ground between the 

 plants in the beds should be forked over with a 

 narrow three-pronged fork, to loosen it and 

 break the clods ; and in this operation the tan 

 which was laid over the surface of the ground' 

 in autumn will be buried, and be a good dress- 

 ing to the Strawberries, especially in strong 

 land. This should be done whether the plants 

 are in distinct bunches or in large beds. 



And about the beginning of April, Marty n 

 observes V if the surface of the beds be covered 

 with moss, it will keep the ground moist, and 

 prevent the drying winds from penetrating the 

 ground, and thereby secure a good crop of fruit ; 

 and also preserve the fruit clean, that when 

 heavy rains fall after it is full grown, there will 

 be no dirt washed over them, which frequently 

 happens, so that it must be washed before it is. 

 fit for the table, which greatly diminishes its. 

 flavour.'-' 



It is of great utility in dry seasons to water- 

 occasionally every summer, while the plants are 

 in blow and forming their fruit ; but as it ap- 

 proaches maturity this should be left off, as it 

 injures the flavour. 



And in some of the more fine sorts, or curi-' 

 ous large varieties, when ripening, it is eligible 

 either to tie up the stalks with the bunches of 

 fruit thereon to sticks, or the leaves and stalks 

 together ; so as, in either wav, to elevate the 

 fruit from the earth, more out of danger of 

 rotting by wet if a rainy season, and to more 

 effectually enjoy the full sun to ripen with a 

 good flavour ; or sometimes place flat tiles on the 

 ground round each plant of a few particular 

 sorts, for the fruit to rest upon, drier and more 

 secure, from rotting by the damp of the earth,.' 

 and to ripen with an improved flavour by such 

 means. 



As the fruit ripens in June and the following 

 months, it should be gathered daily ; being 

 plucked off" in the cup, with about half an inch 

 of thestalk adhering, by which means theyarenot 

 so liable to be bruised, and appear more conve- 

 niently when served at table, and are more agree- 

 ably picked up out of the dish or basket for eat- 

 ing. The Wood-sir. iwberrics arc however very 

 commonly gathered without any stalky part, 

 being generally picked clean out of their cups, 

 especially when designed to cat with cream, cite. 



