THE STRAWBERRY CTJLTTJRI8T. 31 



not push nature past certain limits without causing a part to be de- 

 ficient. 



To produce fruit, there must form a calyx, corolla, stamens, and 

 pistils, and these do not always grow uniformly ; that is, we may force 

 so rapidly that the calyx and corolla will form, but there will be iy 

 stamens or pistils, and consequently no fruit. 



A sudden change from heat to cold, or vice versa, will cause the plants 

 to " go blind" or become barren. Knowing this, we guard against it 

 by bringing the plants from a cool situation into one that is slightly 

 warm, and then to one that is still warmer, and so by two or three 

 changes get them into a situation where they may have the full 

 amount of heat required. 



When the fruit is to be ripened under glass, the plants may be 

 brought from the retarding frames and at once placed in a position 

 where they are to ripen their fruit ; but they must be kept partially 

 shaded at first, and the house or frames quite cool (no bottom heat 

 being required), the temperature being increased gradually until they 

 show fruit ; then they may be hastened through the ripening process 

 if desired. 



Plants that have been forced early in the season may be turned out 

 into the open ground, and if the runners are removed so soon as they 

 appear, and the plants constantly supplied with water, they will 

 usually produce a fair crop, and often a very large crop of fruit in 

 autumn. 



The plants that have fruited in pots are of little value except for the 

 purpose of producing a late crop, after which they may be thrown 

 aside and their place supplied with fresh plants. 



The ripening of the fruit may be considerably retarded when the 

 plants are grown in the open ground, if planted on the north side of a 

 bank, or upon a northern hillside, always taking the precaution to 

 select the very latest variety for this purpose. 



Banks three or four feet high and six feet wide, running from east 

 to west, the sides being terraced and held in place by boards, brick, 

 or stone, are excellent places to not only hasten the crop, but also to 

 retard it. The early varieties are planted on the south, and the late on 

 the north side Place the plants one foot apart, and only one row on each 



