STRAWBERRY. 163 



would perhaps be well to adopt the practice of some 

 gardeners, who are at pains to prick out the offsets, 

 as soon as thej are rooted into beds of rich soil, from 

 which they are transplanted into their proper places 

 early in the spring. 



The desire of new varieties has encouraged the prac- 

 tice of propagating by seed; and Keen, Knevett, Myatt, 

 and others, have been extremely successful. Mr. Knight 

 having observed that the young runners of the alpine 

 strawberry flower and ripen fruit the first year, was led 

 to adopt this mode of reproduction, and followed it with 

 the happiest success. Early in spring he sowed the 

 seed in flower-pots, which were put into a hotbed ; and 

 as soon as the plants attained a suflScierit size, they were 

 transplanted into the open ground. They began to 

 blossom soon after midsummer, and continued to produce 

 fruit till interrupted by frost. Thus Mr. Knight is 

 inxjlined to treat the alpine strawberry as an annual 

 plant. The same practice has been recommended in 

 France by M. Morel de Yind^ {Cal. Sort. Mem., vol. 

 iii.); but he very properly preserves his plants for 

 three years, sowing every year a successional crop. Mr. 

 Keen has applied this method of culture to the wood 

 strawberry ; and we doubt not but it might be extended 

 with beneficial eff"ects to the Old Scarlet and others of 

 the less artificial varieties. 



A clayey soil or strong loam is considered as best 

 suited to strawberry-plants. On a sandy or very light 

 soil they seldom succeed; and in very close situations, 

 and over-rich ground, most varieties produce little else 

 than leaves. Before planting, the ground should be 

 manured and trenched, or digged over deeply, and when 

 stifl* and compact it should be very carefully worked. 



