334 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



down early in the afternoon. When the fruits are about half 

 coloured stop dewing, give more air, and leave the lights slightly 

 raised at nights if the weather is mild ; a free circulation of 

 air whilst the fruits are ripening will improve their flavour. 

 The fruit should be propped up with forked twigs, to keep it 

 from touching the soil. Mats must be used to cover the lights 

 every night whilst there is any danger of frost. A fair amount 

 of warmth must be kept in the bed, and to this end the sides 

 and ends of the bed should be pulled down occasionally and the 

 cold manure replaced with some that is fresh and hot, banking 

 it up to the top of the frameboard. 



About the third week in February another hot-bed, 18in. 

 thick, should be made for a second batch of plants, and a third, 

 1ft. thick, early in March. These will carry on the supply until 

 those being " forwarded " are ready. The last lot do better if 

 turned out of the pots and planted directly in the soil, other- 

 wise the treatment is the same in each case. 



Varieties : The following is a selection of a few varieties, 

 all good and worthy of the market growers' attention, although 

 the list is by no means exhaustive of the best. At the same 

 time it must be remembered that some Strawberries succeed 

 remarkably well in one situation and are very unsatisfactory 

 in another ; therefore any variety which has not been proved 

 to succeed in a district should not be planted largely until it 

 has first been tested on a small scale. 



Early : 



ROYAL SOVEREIGN. Fruit very large and firm, with a pleasant flavour; 



heavy cropper ; vigorous grower, succeeding almost anywhere ; one of 



the best for forcing ; in great favour with growers for market ; where only 



one variety is grown this should be chosen. 

 THE LAXTON. This variety has all the good points of Royal Sovereign 



except that it does not force well. 

 NOBLE. Fruit very large and handsome but of rather poor flavour ; very 



prolific ; vigorous grower, succeeding in most places. 

 VISCOUNTESS HERICART DE THURY (Garibaldi). Fruit medium size, firm, 



and of excellent flavour ; enormous cropper ; robust grower ; forces well ; 



one of the best in any position and succeeds well under trees. 



Mid-season : 



SIR JOSEPH PAXTON. Fruit large, handsome, firm, and of good flavour ; 



heavy cropper ; vigorous grower ; forces fairly well ; a favourite variety 



with market growers. 



