50 FltUIT CULTURE. 



plantations suffer exceedingly, especially when young 

 and open between the trees. Shelter may be given most 

 quickly by lines of Lombardy poplar, planted about two 

 feet apart. Its close upright growth affords a good wind 

 break, but it is somewhat objectionable on account of its 

 tendency to draw nourishment from the plants near it. 

 Therefore, if possible, arrange for a roadway between a 

 poplar hedge and the plantation, and if the roots are 

 found to extend across the roadway into the plantation, 

 they should be periodically cut by digging a trench and 

 cutting all roots that cross. A belt of fir trees affords 

 valuable shelter at the outsides, if the position is very 

 exposed, and in some places damsons are used for this 

 purpose, and where they are likely to afford sufficient 

 protection they are the most profitable, as they produce a 

 paying crop. The cluster damson is the best for this 

 purpose, and the trees may be allowed to extend them- 

 selves, with very little pruning, until they form a close 

 hedge. Standards of these may be planted at ten feet 

 apart, or, if there is no hedge below, it is best to plant- 

 standards at twelve feet apart, and a feathered tree 



between each. 



Strawberries. 



Strawberries require such totally different treatment 

 from fruit trees, they are here dealt with separately, as 

 to planting and management. The best soil for them is a 

 strong loam with a cool subsoil, but they will nourish in 

 a 'great variety of soils. Do not, however, plant them on 

 dry sand, chalk, or dry gravel. In some instances, how- 

 ever, they nourish well on gravel which has in it a 

 mixture of clay. 



They are usually grown on large open fields, and grown 

 alone. The soil should be prepared, as for other fruit, by 



