192 FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



plantation yearly, so as to keep up a succession of fruiting 

 plants. The finest fruits are borne on two-year-old plants, 

 and the heaviest crop on those three years old. 



Thinning and Protecting the Fruit. If exceptionally 

 fine berries are needed for exhibition, the flower trusses 

 must be thinned out early, retaining the strongest only. 

 Allow about a dozen fruits to form on each plant, and one 

 fruit only the biggest to develop on each peduncle. As 

 soon as the berries begin to colour, protect the plants 

 with fish-netting, or the birds will play havoc with the 

 fruit. Trusses bearing big fruits for exhibition should be 

 supported off the ground by means of a forked stick, or 

 by one of the wire contrivances sold for the purpose. 



Alpine Strawberries. Hints on rearing these from seed 

 have already been given. They may, however, be reared 

 from runners, as advised for the ordinary kind. The plants 

 should be grown ift. apart, and no runners be allowed to 

 form on them. Mulch with manure in autumn, and keep 

 free from weeds ; then the plants will fruit freely from 

 June to November. 



Hautbois Strawberries. A race of Strawberries re- 

 markable for the musky aroma of their flesh. They are, 

 however, very shy bearers, and few people care to grow 

 them in consequence. Unless great care is exercised in 

 securing runners from free-fruiting plants, they may prove 

 sterile. They should be planted i5in. apart each way. 



Perpetual fruiting Strawberries. As previously men- 

 tioned, this race of Strawberries is the result of a cross 

 between the Alpine and the ordinary Large-fruited Straw- 

 berries. They are of sturdy growth, and flower and fruit 

 continuously from May to December. The fruits are of 

 medium size, and borne very freely. They are suitable 

 for small gardens, and should be planted isin. apart in 

 rows 2ft. asunder. In all other respects treat them as 

 advised for the ordinary kind. 



