332 HTSTOKY OF FRUITS. 



afterwards well dug in with a fork; I then form the beds 

 four feet four inches wide, with alleys at least two feet 

 wide between them. The runners of most varieties are 

 set out eighteen inches from plant to plant, and the same 

 distance from row to row : the roseberry and common 

 scarlet do not require so much room ; I consequently set 

 them sixteen inches from plant to plant, and only allow a 

 foot between the rows, which I find quite sufficient for 

 their growth. The sorts I prefer and cultivate chiefly, 

 are the Pine, Downton Castle, Hautboy, ^Hudson's Bay, 

 Wilmot's late Scarlet, Common Scarlet, Keen's Imperial, 

 and two sorts, of Chili; but I never suffer any of the va- 

 rieties to remain in the ground more than one year. Early 

 in August, as soon as the gathering is over, I destroy all 

 my beds, and proceed immediately to trench, form, and 

 manure them in the manner before directed, to receive the 

 plants for the crop of the ensuing year, taking care to 

 select for that purpose the strongest and best-rooted run- 

 ners from the old rejected plants. If at this season the 

 weather should be particularly hot, and the surface of the 

 ground much parched, I defer the operation of preparing 

 my beds and planting them, till the ground is moistened 

 by rain." 



The covering of strawberry-plants with sea-weed in the 

 winter, has been found to increase the size of the fruit to 

 a prodigious degree. This is much practised in the Island 

 of Jersey. 



The old practice of putting clean straw round straw- 

 berry plants, is still continued in some parts of Suffolk ; 

 and its utility is very evident, as in dry, parching weather, 

 it is the means of keeping the plants moist; and in wet, 

 showery weather, it both keeps the fruit clean, and pre- 

 vents its rotting so rapidly. 



We have found the short grass mowed from lawns an- 

 swer this purpose, and which has a neater appearance. 



