TIME OF RIPENING. 475 



or old pastures, will again bring in fruit. It also often occurs, that 

 the stamijuUes have become too numerous. These are easily de- 

 lected, as tliey flower some eiglit or ten days earlier than the pistil- 

 lates, and may then be drawn out. 



The situation of a bed or phmtation affects only the earlier or 

 later maturity of a variety. A side-hill sloping south-east, with 

 springs of water gushing from several points near its summit, lias 

 enabled an acquaintance of ours to send to market the •' Early 

 Scarlet " strawberry, some ten days or two weeks in advance of 

 otliers, who have the same variety on warm soils and upon level 

 exposures. Situations so selected that water can be supplied 

 liberally throughout the fruiting season, will increase the product 

 nearly one-third. "\Yet ground, where w^ater stands after rains, or 

 springy, cold soils, should never be selected. 



Season f 07' Transplanting and Preparation of Plants. South of 

 Philadelphia, the best season for forming new plantations is either 

 the last of September, first of October, or in March. In latitudes 

 north of this range it will generally be found best to transplant in 

 April or early in May. July or August planting in either section 

 will be found unprofitable, owing to the clear drying heat of our sun ; 

 while September or later planting in the northern range will require 

 additional care, heavy mulching with tan-bark, saw-dust or the like ; 

 and even then, many of the plants will be drawn out by frosts of 

 Winter. 



The plants, when set, should be trimmed of all but two leaves, 

 the roots immersed in muddy water, and if possible a damp or rainy 

 time selected for the work ; and in order to have the bed profitable, 

 one hermaphrodite should be planted to every eight pistillate plants. 



Time of Ripening. This varies according to latitude. In the 

 latitude of Cincinnati, the season usually commences about the 2oth 

 May, continuing until the first of July, and for every degree of lati- 

 tude a difference of ten days may be counted on, either earlier or 

 later, as you go north or south. 



The fruiting season may also be controlled at pleasure by means 

 of cutting foliage and flowers, and liberal or restrained watering. 

 If, for instance, a bed of Jenney's Seedling be taken, of eight feet 

 square, the first two feet square shall be permitted to bloom and fruit 

 at its usual time; the next two feet shall have only its first fVuit- 

 stems plucked when just about to bloom ; the third shall have its 

 entire foliage and fruit-stems cut close to the ground, and when the 

 second fruit-stems appear, they are also to be picked as in the second 

 plat ; the fourth shall be treated as the third, but receive no moisture 

 after the first cutting for a space of ten days or two weeks. The 

 result will be a succession of fruit in order. 



Modes of Culture. Different varieties require measurably different 

 modes of culture in order to insure full and perfect fruit. That of 



