STRAWBERRY. 165 



situations they succeed perfectly well, and produce 

 fruit late in the season. 



If strawberries be planted on a good border, in rows 

 a yard asunder, a crop of early peas may be taken be- 

 tween the rows; and the peas may be succeeded by 

 Cape broccoli, which seems not only not to be hurt by 

 the excretion from the roots of the peas, but to remove 

 any noxious quality thus imparted to the soil. The 

 regular manuring for these crops keeps the strawberries 

 in good vigor. The bed should not occupy the same 

 ground more than three or four consecutive seasons. 



Strawberries hav^ always been a favorite dessert 

 fruit. They likewise form an excellent preserve ; and 

 from their freedom from excess of acid seem well 

 adapted to the manufacture of home wine. To this 

 purpose they have been only partially employed ; but 

 the samples of strawberry wine which we have tasted 

 had more of the vinous flavor than any other of our 

 domestic wines. The culture of strawberries is the 

 most lucrative part of the employment of the market- 

 gardener, at least near large towns. In England it is 

 not uncommon for him to realize a clear profit of .£25 

 or X35, or even more, per imperial acre of strawberry 

 ground. The greater the diligence and assiduity of 

 the cultivator, the greater will be his returns. It is a 

 common and just remark, that too little labor is, in 

 general, expended upon the strawberry, and by the 

 ignorant and unskilful gardener least of all. 



In some places, a strawberry bank is formed in this 

 ■way : A 1-idge of earth, consisting of rich loam if pos- 

 sible, is formed, about six feet broad at the base, and 

 about five feet high in the centre, running nearly from 

 north to south. Along the centre of the ridge a nar- 

 15 



