Gardening for Amateurs 



1013 



established and secure a good root-hold 

 before winter, and will give a crop of fine 

 fruits the next year. They should be planted 

 15 inches apart in the row, the rows being 

 18 inches asunder. Some growers plant 

 them 1 foot apart in the row, the rows being 

 2 feet apart ; after the 

 first crop is gathered, r 

 every other plant is 

 pulled up, thus leaving 

 all at 2 feet apart. The 

 method of layering the 

 runners directly in the 

 ground does not provide 

 such good plants, conse- 

 quently the first year ; 

 after planting little fruit 

 is obtained. 



By the middle of 

 August some ground will 

 have been cleared of 

 early Potatoes ; this will 

 answer admirably for the 

 Strawberries. Dig the 

 soil 18 to 20 inches deep, 

 and in the lower part 

 mix well-rotted manure. 

 Tread the soil firmly 

 round the plants, and 

 give a soaking of water. 

 Keep the ground free 

 from weeds by hoeing, cut 

 off runners as they grow, 

 and if the weather is dry 

 give copious waterings. 

 Place a layer of manure, 

 about 2 inches deep, on 

 the soil round the young 

 plants at the end of 

 October; the winter rains *~ - 

 will wash its valuable pro- 

 perties to the roots. 



At the end of March fork the manure 

 lightly into the soil. No further attention 

 is necessary until just before the flower 

 trusses appear amongst the leaves ; it is 

 then time to spread some short straw in 

 the rows, covering the ground. In the first 

 place, the straw should be laid down loosely, 

 so that it can be spread over the plants at 

 night when they are in flower if frost is ap- 

 prehended. When danger from frost is past 

 the straw should be bedded down firmly, 



ready for the fruits to rest on when ripe, by 

 which means they will be kept clean and 

 free from grit. 



The fruit ought to be gathered at least 

 every other day, to prevent over-ripeness and 

 waste from decay. Slugs are troublesome at 



1 



Strawberry Dr. Hogg. 



this time, and should be searched for at 

 night, and when found put in a can of salt. 

 After the crop is gathered the ground is 

 usually over -run with weeds and runners. 

 Destroy the weeds with a hoe, or, if deeply 

 rooted, with a spade. Cut off with a knife 

 the runners and lowest leaves these are 

 the oldest, and often infested with mildew. 

 Burn weeds, runners, and old leaves. This 

 is done late in September or early October. 

 Afterwards top-dress the soil with a layer of 



