198 FRUIT-GARDENING. 



between the rows, which keeps the ground moist and the fruit 

 clean. They are natives of temperate, or cold climates, as of 

 Europe and America. The fruit, though termed a berry, is in 

 botanical language a fleshy receptacle, studded with seeds. It 

 is universally grateful, alone or with sugar, cream, or wine, and 

 has the property, so valuable for acid stomachs, of not undergo- 

 ing the acetous fermentation. Physicians concur in placing 

 Strawberries in their small catalogue of pleasant remedies ; as 

 having properties which render them in most conditions of the 

 animal frame positively salutary. They dissolve the tartareous 

 incrustations of the teeth, and promote perspiration. Persons 

 afflicted with the gout have found relief from using them very 

 largely ; so have patients in case of the stone ; and Hoff'man 

 states that he has known consumptive people cured by them. 

 The bark of the root is astringent. 



CULTIVATION AND MANAGEMENT. 



In cultivating the Strawberry an open situation and rich loamy 

 soil, rather strong, are required for most varieties ; and from 

 their large mass of foliage and flowers, they must, till the fruit 

 is set, have copious supplies of water. The row culture is best 

 calculated to produce fruit ; and frequent renewal insures 

 vigorous plants as well as large fruit. Some plant them in 

 single rows, from eighteen inches to two feet apart, according 

 to the sorts. Others form a bed with four rows. If several 

 beds be intended, a space of two or three feet may be left 

 between each bed as a path ; and in the second or third season 

 the paths may be manured and dug, to admit the runners taking 

 root. By this means a renewal may be made so often ; and 

 the old stools being taken away, leave spaces between the beds 

 as before. Or new plantations may be made every season; 

 because, after the roots are fairly established, they multiply 

 spontaneously, as well by suckers from the parent stem as by 

 numerous runners ; all of which, rooting and forming a plant at 

 every joint, require only removal to a spot where there is room 

 for them to flourish. If the runners be taken ofl", and planted 



