STRAWBERRIES AS POT FRUIT 183 



berries may be seen together at ail stages of development, from those just be- 

 ginning to grow to the lusciously ripe fruit. 



I think the Strawberry is a valuable crop which should be included in ever\ 

 establishment. Even where there is no fruithouse at all, a few batches may be 

 easily brought along in another house, where they will give equal pleasure. It 

 is the early maturity of a crop of this nature that appeals, for it gives an extended 

 season from the first of March to the time when the garden crop begins, if there 

 are enough plants for the purpose. By the method that I have suggested it 

 really costs nothing but labor. A carnation, vegetable or rosehouse can easily 

 be made to accommodate a few shelves, hung along the cross bars with little or 

 no damage below. 



Excellent results ma>- be had when houses with different temperatures are 

 at command, a temperature of 45° to start with at night, with a rise of 10 in 

 the day, or 15° with sun heat. For this stage a \egetable house where Lettuce, 

 Cauliflower, Radishes, etc., are grown is excellent. Let the berry pots stay 

 here until they get acclimatized, or root action begins, and the new foliage is 

 expanding. Then a carnationhouse temperature will be agreeable, until the 

 plants are through blooming, with the fruit set; when this is done, a rose- 

 house temperature may be given, or higher if necessary. If they are not sub- 

 jected to any extreme heat, more air can be admitted when the fruit is ripen- 

 ing, and this will heighten the color, improve the flavor, and give tone to the 

 berries, two very important factors in the make-up of a perfect berry. With- 

 out high color the flavor will be decidedly flat. With a rosehouse temperature 

 and a free circulation of air the conditions should be perfect for both high color 

 and rich flavor. But these are only two requirements. For poor root action 

 there is no remedy. Fruit produced under this condition is of decidedly low 

 grade and almost tasteless. Careless watering and poor drainage are generally 

 the cause of sluggish root action. A too high grade manure will also cause 

 stagnation. When Strawberry roots once become inacti\e, it is difficult to 

 bring them around again. 



Skill and close attention are required when bringing the plants in very early 

 for forcing. Later in the season there is little or no difficulty in procuring a 

 good crop, especially through April and May, for then an abundance of air may 

 be admitted, which is agreeable to them. The first lot of plants may be brought 

 in between the middle of December and the first of January. If they have had 

 a fair amount of frost before forcing, they will start up soon. They should have 

 a fair amount of foliage. When they make this growth before coming into 

 bloom, with roots working, one application of nitrate of soda will help 

 them and give tone to the foliage. Give it in the proportion of a 

 tablespoonful to a three-gallon can of water. Feed no more until the 

 fruit is set, but after this they will take a surprising amount of food to 

 good advantage, provided there is not too strong an application at one 

 time. It is better to feed light and often, increasing as the plant gets 

 accustomed to the process, assuming that the roots are working. Growing 

 berries in a six-inch pot means producing a crop under restrictions. Then 

 if extra large berries are required, there must be sj'stematic feeding. With 



