324 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



up fresh beds in the following spring for a further supply of 

 plants, or they may be left where they are standing through 

 the winter. The old plants, not yet having fruited, will yield a 

 great crop the following season. 



Summer Planting. All things considered, the best time to 

 make a new Strawberry plantation is early in August. This 

 entails more labour than when the plantation is made either in 

 autumn or spring, but if August planting is well done and the 

 plants properly cared for afterwards, a good crop of fruit can 

 be gathered from them the following season, whereas when 

 planting is done on either of the other dates none can be had 

 until the second season ; therefore the additional labour 

 receives an abundant recompense. One of the best crops to 

 precede summer-planted Strawberries is early potatoes; the 

 tillage and manuring which potatoes require cleans, aerates, and 

 enriches the soil, and if it is harrowed and rolled after the crop 

 is lifted it is in prime condition for receiving the plants. Some 

 difference of opinion exists as to the best distance apart to set 

 them, but much depends upon the vigour of the variety and 

 the nature of the soil. A safe rule on the average is to set 

 the rows 2ft. apart, and the plants 18in. apart in the rows, but 

 some varieties are all the better for Gin. more space each way, 

 whilst others need not be more than 1ft. apart in the row. 

 It is a good plan to omit every third row for convenience of 

 gathering and cultivation, as then there will be no need to 

 trample amongst the plants, for although the Strawberry 

 thrives best in firm soil this does not mean a bed almost as 

 hard as concrete, which is the condition most heavy soils 

 would be in when dry, if trampled on when wet. This space 

 can be filled with lettuce or some similar crop which is cleared 

 before gathering begins, and there is thus little or no loss. 

 Dull cloudy weather, when the soil is moist, should be chosen 

 for the work when possible, but do not plant when the soil is 

 wet and pasty, or the roots will not run freely. Do not plant 

 with a dibber, but use a garden trowel, and see that the roots 

 are spread out evenly, then fill in with fine friable soil, which 

 should be pressed quite firmly round the roots, further con- 

 solidating the earth by treading in afterwards. The collar of 

 the plant when all is finished should be just level with the 



