STRAWBERRIES. 23 



acres are grown, chiefly by tenants of a quarter of 

 an acre to ten acres. Sixty tons of fruit were sent 

 from Botley Station on June 25th, 1889. Large 

 early fruit sold for 10s. a gallon of 7lbs. ; smaller 

 and later crops falling to eighteen pence. Good 

 crops pay at a shilling. Salesmen charge a little 

 under two shillings for a case of a hundred punnets, 

 each weighing slightly less than a pound. An acre 

 in a good season yields a return of 50, cost of 

 culture, including rent, labour, picking, manure 

 (twenty tons per acre) 17 ; profit 33. SmaV 

 plants are sold at five shillings a thousand. That 

 represents open allotment or field culture. Heavier 

 crops are obtained from richer soil in gardens. 



Strawberries usually bear about three full crops, 

 but some should be planted every year for main- 

 taining profitable plantations, removing the older 

 as the plants become exhausted. 



Raising Plants. The first essential to success 

 is the establishment of strong plants ready for 

 planting in good ground by the first week in 

 August. This is perfectly practicable. The secret 

 of success is to be found in early runners and the 

 quick rooting of the plantlets that form on them. 

 For insuring these it is of the first importance to 

 establish a few early young plants yearly in the 

 best soil and position available. These afford 



