168 FRUIT GARDEN. 



flower, the blossoms of the femules having an entirely 

 green centre, whilst those that exhibit a great many yel- 

 low stamens represent the male, or barren plants. Such 

 flowers as have only a portion of stamens around the 

 base of the green conical centre of the flower, are term- 

 ed staminate or perfect blossoms. 



In the United States, strawberry plants are set out 

 either in the spring months of March and April, or in 

 the months of August and September. A good size for 

 beds is four feet wide with three rows of plants about 

 fifteen inches apart. The beds may have walks two or 

 two and a half feet wide for the workers or pickers to 

 move in. 



After the middle of July, the runners not required to 

 produce fresh plants are to be clipped off or otherwise 

 destroyed. The beds should be hoed so that the soil 

 may be kept open, and in light soils a few inches of well- 

 rotted manure should be dug in between the rows every 

 fall. Where exposed to severe cold, some straw or rough 

 litter should be lightly spread over the beds in winter. 

 In dry seasons, after the plants have done blooming, it 

 will generally be of great service to the fruit to have the 

 beds occasionally watered with lueak liquid mai:)ure of 

 some kind, either the drainings from the cattle yard or 

 other fertilizing liquid. A solution of guano, in the pro- 

 portion of one lb. to six or eight gallons of water, will 

 answer very well. Manure must generally be given in 

 some way or other if very large fruit is wanted. As 

 the beds will not generally produce well longer than 

 three or four years, it is requisite to have a succession 

 of new ones coming on in other places. It is recom- 

 mended to set out the female plants, with the exception 

 of every fifth row, which is to consist of males. The 



