STRAWBERRIES. 387 



In preparing the ground for the reception of these plants, 

 it should be trenched two spades deep (twenty inches), with 

 a quantity of half-rotten dung mixed with the first spit. In 

 planting them out, the most economical method perhaps will 

 be, to plant in beds of four rows each, with intervals of two 

 and a half or two feet between the beds, according to the 

 sorts to be planted. 



The strongest growers, such as WilmoVs Superb, and all 

 the varieties of the third Class, may be fifteen inches from 

 row to row, and fifteen inches between each plant ; the next 

 strongest may have the rows fifteen inches apart, and the 

 plants twelve inches : the third size, comprising all those of 

 the sixth and seventh Classes, may have the rows twelve in- 

 ches apart, and the plants twelve inches ; the fourth size, 

 those of Class I. and V., may have the rows twelve inches 

 apart, and the plants nine inches. 



During the first year, all the runners should be cut ofHhe 

 plants some time before they have taken root, which will 

 give the stool plants full possession of the soil. Such sorts 

 as show fruit should have the ground covered, when coming 

 into blossom, with either short grass or with straw, which 

 will keep the blossoms clean, and the fruit free from soil 

 when ripe ; besides, the surface of the ground will be pro- 

 tected from the scorching rays of the sun, and in case of 

 heavy showers, the rain will thus be prevented from running 

 off. As soon as the fruit is gathered, however, this covering 

 should be removed, and the ground kept clean by the hoe. 

 In the winter, and not before, as the plants will not have 

 finished their growth", the leaves must be cut off, and the 

 spaces among the plants, as well as the alleys, dug carefully 

 over, so as not to injure their roots : this will be best done 

 with a three-pronged fork, instead of the spade. The second 

 summer, the plants will bear their best crop and finest fruit ; 

 the beds and outside of the alleys should be covered with 

 mown grass or with straw, as before, three or four inches 

 thick : by this method I have found the fruit not only more 

 abundant, but much finer than by any other. 



In cultivating the Hautbois Straw berry plants from bad col- 

 lections produce a number of what some gardeners call male 

 or sterile plants ; and many are of opinion, that because 

 they are males, it is necessary they should be preserved in 

 their beds, in order to fertilize the others ; and some have 

 gone so far as to plant them with a rather numerous regular* 



