Growing Straisoberriesfor Forcing, 265 



one plant in a pot. I prefer one plant to either-sized pot in pre- 

 ference to a greater number; and, if the above method is pursued, 

 it will, from the rapidity of their growth, be found quite suf- 

 ficient. If the autumnal rains are heavy, I lay them on their 

 sides ; and, about the middle of December, place them in some 

 frames to keep the frost from injuring the roots, till they are 

 placed in the forcing-house. I shall say nothing of their ap- 

 pearance in the house, but leave it to the imagination. After 

 forcing them, I turn them out of the pots, and plunge them in 

 rows, at moderate distances, in a piece of spare ground in the 

 garden, well exposed to the sun and a free circulation of air. 

 (From these you will have a slight gathering after the natural 

 crops are over.) In the autumn I take them up with good 

 balls of earth, and plant them in rows in a melon pit of about 

 30 lights, which I fill full, placing them rather thick, to econo- 

 mise the rows, and press the mould firmly to their roots. The 

 pit has neither bottom-heat nor pipes, but is simply covered with 

 mats. As soon as the frosts set in I place the lights on, but 

 do not begin to cover up with mats before March. If warm 

 showers come in April I take the lights off, and let the plants 

 have the benefit (which is better than watering from a pot), to 

 forward them. When the sun is shining hot in the afternoon I 

 shut up close, and cover up directly with double mats. You 

 will find the next morning a sensible difference in their ap- 

 pearance. These plants will bear abundantly, coming in at a 

 very seasonable time, just before the out-door strawberries, 

 which are very often retarded by late frosts ; when, the days being 

 generally very hot, strawberries are in great demand, and, it 

 being too hot for them in the houses, they are sometimes very 

 scarce. After the fruit is gathered, the plants are dug up and 

 thrown away, and the pit planted with melons. 



By following this simple routine, year after year, you will be 

 able to supply a family, however large, with abundant crops 

 of this beautiful fruit, in the highest state of perfection, and at a 

 very trifling expense. 



Now I am on the subject of strawberries, do you know if it is 

 any where recorded why the strawberry leaf was first chosen to 

 garnish the coronets of the three superior orders of our nobility, 

 in preference to the leaf of the oak, 



• " a prince's refuge once, 



The eternal guard of England's throne," 



which would appear to be a much better emblem ? Shakspeare 

 has written, " the strawberry grows underneath the nettle," but 

 he has not stated why the plant is honoured so far as to be 

 elevated above the brow of a duke. 

 CamberwelL Feb. 1. 1841. 



