324 AMJ:;UICAN HUSBANDRY. 



a general rule, it may be remarked, that the large 

 kinds of fruit are not as high-flavoured, and are 

 more liable to be defective than the middle-sized or 

 smaller varieties. Mr. Downing recommends the 

 Bishop, as uniting all the qualities required to make 

 a fine and delicious strawberry. 



Strawberry plantations may be established either 

 in spring or autumn; and April or September have 

 been pronounced the best months for transplanting. 

 The plajit is easily propagated by runners, which, 

 rooting at each joint, only require separation and 

 removal to constitute a new plant. If these roots 

 are taken up in September, they will produce fruit 

 the next season. From the large mass of foliage 

 and flowers produced from a single root, it is evident 

 that, until the fruit is set, large quantities of water 

 are required ; but afterward a dry bed, and a dry, 

 sunny air, give the richest fruit. To have good fruit, 

 'the runners must bq cut off from the bearing plants, 

 as they exhaust the juices ; the ground must be 

 kept perfectly clean and free from weeds ; and, for 

 the larger varieties, covering the earth with wheat 

 or rye straw during the period of fruiting makes the 

 berry ripen better, and keeps it from contact with 

 the earth. Oat-straw is said to cause the fruit to 

 mildew. Dry leaves will do in the place of straw, 

 and, after the bearing season is over, they may, with 

 other compost, be spaded or worked in as manure. 



Many persons, in cultivating the Strawberry, have 

 experienced much disappointment in finding that 

 their plants, though growing luxuriantly and blos- 

 soming freely, produced no fruit. This is account- 

 ed for by their having made an unfortunate selection 

 of plants for their beds. Strawberry-plants are of 

 two kinds, /er/77e and unfertile. Every one who has 

 noticed the common field Strawberry is aware that 

 some patches of vines produce ever)'' year abun 

 dance of large, showy flowers, and little or no fruit 

 while others, with flowers of little show, are uniform 



