Stoves 



( 367 ) 



Strawberry 



summer months, as the additional air and sun 

 ripen their growths, improve their colour, and 

 ensure their passing through the winter in good 

 condition. Thorough cleanliness in regard to the 

 structure, the pots, and the plants is the great 

 secret of successful cultivation. 



STOVES. 



Stoves are generally employed for heating small 

 structures or those to which it is inconvenient to 

 affix a boiler. They are broadly divided into two 

 sections gas and oil and many very ingenious 

 examples of each are on the market. The best 

 stoves are fitted with hot-water pipes, and as they 

 are generally stood or fixed inside the structure to 

 be heated, their effect upon the temperature is 

 naturally considerable. 



The best makes of gas stoves are provided with 

 a length of pipe to carry the fumes off. either 

 at the side or through the roof of the house. 

 <ias stoves are less troublesome to manage than 

 those burning oil, the chief attention necessary 

 being the removal of the carbon which forms in 

 flakes over the surface upon which the flame 

 impinges. 



It' oil stoves are used, particular care should be 

 exercised with regard to cleanliness, the wick 

 being trimmed daily (this trimming does not 

 necessarily mean cutting with scissors a rubbing 

 off of the charred parts will suffice), the oil 

 containing vessel being emptied of dirty accumula- 

 tions periodically, and the wick being scalded with 

 boiling water occasionally. Stoves with circular 

 wicks are generally more powerful in proportion to 

 size than those with flat ones, but the wicks require 

 lather more care in cutting and keeping level; 

 the winding apparatus, too. is rather liable to get 

 nut of order. An important item in the prevention 

 of smell and smoke is to see that all parts intended 

 to be shut are closed tightly, as the slightest 

 cliunirht in the wrong place is very prolific ot both. 

 The wick should not be turned high at lighting. 

 :is I ho (lame invariably works up somewhat, neither 

 should it be turned down unduly to moderate the 

 heat, or a v^ry powerful and injurious stench will 

 result. 



STRANV/ESIA. 



Half-hardy evergreens (-nd Rosacese) composed 

 of four species Glaucescens grows 20' in height, 

 and bears white flowers in June. Propagation, by 

 seeds. Good loamy soil. 



STRATIFICATION. 



The airangement of various kinds of soils or 

 rocks in layers is designated stratification, each 

 layer being a stratum. Igneous rocks are not 

 stratified, but those of aqueous origin always are, 

 bhough often, owing to some upheaval, the "strata 

 Are so folded that it is difficult to follow the various 

 layers. Rocks formed by the agency of water are 

 ither sedimentary, as clay, gravel, loam, sand, 

 shale, and marl, or are formed by the decay of 

 plants or animals. To the first of the two latter 

 oal, graphite, lignite, and peat owe tlieir origin ; 

 while to the decay or deposits of animals >uch 

 rocks as limestone (including chalk), flint, guano, 

 and coprolites are due. In the work of deep 

 trenching or draining a garden, two or more layers 

 of rock geologists regard all soil as rock are 

 frequently cut thrmreh, while in a deep railway 

 cutting, quarry, or mine shaft stratification is very 

 noticeable. 



The seeds of such plants as Hawthorn (Cratjegus), 

 Holly (Ilex), Roses, and Plums are often laid 

 in alternate rows of soil and seed in a heap, to 

 hasten the decay of the hard outer coat. This 

 process is known to the nurseryman as "strati- 

 fying." 



STRATIOTES. (WATEE SOLDIER.) 

 , The only species (iird. Hydrocharideae) is a 

 native aquatic, and grows so freely that in orna- 

 mental waters it frequently becomes a nuisance. 

 It propagates freely by seeds or division, and is 

 quite capable of taking care of itself. When first 

 introduced to a pond or lake it should have a 

 little soil or moss bound round its roots. 



Principal Species : 



aloides, 1' to 2', Je., wh. 



STRAWBERRY. 



Description. This delicious fruit (ord. Rosa- 

 ceae), is by far the most important of the small, 

 soft fruits Hundreds of acres of land are under 

 Strawberries for the supply of the big markets, 

 while many thousands of plants are grown in pots 

 for the production of early fruits. Correctly, the 

 delicious pulpy mass which is popularly regarded 

 as the fruit of the plant is not the fruit at all, the 

 small, light coloured specks (achenes) embedded 

 in the surface of the flesh being the true fruits. 

 The Strawberry is reputed to be excellent in cases 

 of gout. It is certainly a most wholesome fruit, 

 which can be partaken of in practically unlimited 

 quantities, as no acetous fermentation is set up, as 

 is the case with all other fruits except Raspberries. 



Soil and Situation, Broadly speaking,' Straw- 

 berries will grow in any soil, but the varieties are 

 fastidious, and one which thrives magnificently in 

 one place will fail in another, and the reverse. 

 Again, in some lands annual beds are the only ones 

 that can be made profitable. With these reserva- 

 tions, the ideal soil is a deeply worked, friable, 

 mellow loam, which has been enriched with 

 manure if in poor condition. Neither very heavy 

 nor very light soils are suitable. With the former 

 gritty matter must be freely incorporated to give the 

 necessary porosity, and into the latter clay should 

 be mixed to afford retentiveness. If there be choice 

 of situation, avoid that in which water may lodge, 

 and if such must be employed, draining should be 

 resorted to. There should be no obstruction to 

 light and fresh air, the finest flavour being developed 

 in full sun. In order to maintain a long supply of 

 fruit, endeavour should be made to have plants on 

 a warm, south border for earliness, in the open for 

 successional and main crops, and on a north slope 

 or border for the latest supplies. 



Propagation. By seeds for new varieties ; by 

 division, retaining one crown to each portion ; and 

 by runners, of which most varieties produce an 

 abundance. The last-named method is the best. 

 The utmost care should be taken to avoid runners 

 from barren plants, as the progeny from such 

 are almost invariably unfruitful. As a rule only 

 the first plant produced by a runner should be 

 secured, but wlier the second is very vigorous, 

 or the stock is limited, this and others may also 

 be secured. Three systems of procedure are open 



Strariiilnnii imtiiim- (see liarringtonia samoensis). 

 l<lrinrbi'rrj/ HI iff (.v lilitum). 

 SI run-In- rr i/ S/>innrli (.irr IllUnnt). 

 TI-IT (< Arbutus). 



