sessing comparatively few advantages. Let, then, the beams 

 of intelligence, which are imparting so much benefit to man- 

 kind by their wide diffusion, disperse these clouds of igno- 

 rance and error from the enlightened horticulturists of the 

 American republic ! 



STRAWBERRIES. 



Soil and Situation. 



The situation should be an open exposure, but somewhat 

 sheltered from the excessive heat of noonday. Moisture, 

 and a degree of shade, are natural to this plant, as may be 

 inferred from the situations it occupies in a wild state. A 

 sandy soil may cause an earlier maturity of the fruit, but 

 will not be conducive to an abundant yield. A light rich 

 loam is considered the most favourable, being soft and plia- 

 ble, so that the runners may easily penetrate it with their 

 roots. A mixture of bog earth is found advantageous ; and) 

 in enriching the soil, cold manures are to be used. In the 

 southern states, I should consider the best situations for this 

 plant to be the north sides of hills, or the shady borders on 

 the north side of a garden fence, or a hedge. The planta- 

 tions in the vicinity of New-York, and which furnish that 

 city with this fruit, are generally made, by plain farmers, on 

 good loamy soils, which are light and mellow, and occupy 

 open and unsheltered fields. The yield from them is im- 

 mense, and they are considered among the most advantage- 

 ous appropriations of the soil. 



forming Beds. 



The most favourable season to form beds is in September 

 or October, which gives the plants sufficient time to esta* 

 blish themselves, and become well rooted before the ground 

 freezes, and thereby prevents their being thrown out by the 

 winter frosts. In forming these beds, you should select 

 strong and vigorous runners, or off-sets, in preference to tak- 

 ing old plants ; these may be placed in beds from three to 

 four feet wide, and from ten to twelve inches apart each 

 way, according to the extent to which the variety usually 

 expands in its growth. Most varieties do best when allowed 

 to run together, so as to form a complete matt as in this 

 case one forms a shelter for the other from excessive heat 



