I2 4 THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES 



covered. They will soon push up and show themselves, and by the 

 time the fruit appears the straw will be washed clean, and the crop 

 being thus aided will be a great one, weather permitting. As regards 

 cutting off the leaves, we advise the removal of old large leaves as 

 soon as the crop is gathered. But this should be done with a knife ; 

 to use a scythe amongst Strawberries is to ruin the plantation. The 

 object of removing old leaves is to admit light and air to the 

 young leaves, for on the free growth of these the formation of good 

 crowns for the next year's use depends. By encouraging the young 

 leaves to grow, root action is promoted, and the embryo buds are 

 formed that will, in the next summer, develop into Strawberries. 



Some gardeners recommend the removal of the Strawberry 

 plantation every three years. It is a better plan to make a small 

 plantation annually, and at the same time destroy an old plantation 

 that has served its turn. But we are bound to say that Strawberry 

 plantations, well made and well kept, will often last and prove profit- 

 able for six or even more years. But this will never be the case 

 where there is a stint of manure or water, or where the runners are 

 allowed to run in their own way to make a Strawberry mat and a jam 

 of the wrong sort. The Strawberry fancier does not wish to keep a 

 plantation any great length of time, and he must plant annually to 

 taste the new sorts. This to many people is one of the chief delights 

 of the garden, and it certainly has its attractions. 



Strawberries are forced in large quantities in good gardens ; and 

 even in small places much pleasure is derived from a few plants 

 nicely fruited under glass in the spring of the year. The earliest 

 runners should be very firmly potted, and grown liberally, until the 

 growing season is over. Runners from forced plants are generally 

 preferred because of their earliness. A substantial soil is required, 

 and the pots must be well drained. Success depends on beginning 

 early and forcing slowly, the plants to be as near the glass as possible, 

 and to be very carefully managed that they are not injured by sudden 

 bursts of sunshine when somewhat dry at the roots. To guard 

 against this, it is good practice to put a few inches of half- rotten manure 

 on the shelf and let them root through, in which case the labour of 

 watering will be somewhat lessened, but must be carefully attended 

 to for all that. It is no uncommon thing for a beginner in this 

 business to lose the whole stock of thriving plants through a little 

 neglect of the watering. The highest temperature allowable up to 

 the fruiting stage is 45 to 50 in the first instance, afterwards 50 to 

 60. When there is a fair crop of berries formed the remaining 



