WATER. 81 



ordinarily trouble us, wliere the tan is one inch in 

 thickness, and altogether it is excellent. Where tan 

 cannot be obtained, sawdust will do, if not applied 

 too thick. Leaf-mould is very good, if the soil is not 

 already too rich. Straw is good, but green rowen or 

 fresh-cut grass, if the seeds are not ripe, is better still ; 

 any thing, in fact, not injurious, that is convenient and 

 adapted, can be used. 



WATER. 



The strawberry has a great relish for good, clear, 

 cold water. We have often seen them take a strong- 

 shower-bath at midday, in the face of the hottest sun 

 in July, without skrinking. A slight siDrinkle, just to 

 lay the dust, does not satisfy them, but a thorough 

 soaking is what they delight in — say a pailful of water 

 to every six or eight plants, or every four feet square 

 of earth. If you say "this calls for a great deal of 

 hard work," we answer then, do not repeat it so often, 

 but do it thoroughly whenever attempted. A few 

 weeks since, we sent a friend some plants of new and 

 rare kinds. A drought prevailed, and we feared he 

 would neglect them, so we called to see them, and 

 found he had set out and sprinkled them in the light- 

 est, most delicate manner possible, and lost the most 

 of them. Another friend to whom we gave a few 



