45 6 



GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



planted upon open ground fully exposed, or upon borders facing north, 

 south, or west. Planted on a north border late varieties are very 

 useful, for they provide a supply of fruit for a considerable time after 

 the general crop has been gathered. Upon a south border, especially 

 with a wall behind, ripe fruit may be gathered from the early varieties 

 by the first week in June, or even before, much depending upon the 

 weather. 



Planting. August is the best month to plant the Strawberry; 

 early planting is one of the chief points in its culture. The plants are 

 then able to get well established in their new quarters before the winter, 

 and so pass safely through the cold, inclement weather; whereas if 

 planting is deferred, say, until late in September, winter is at hand 

 before the roots have penetrated into the fresh soil. When brighter 



and longer days appear 

 they are not in a fit 

 condition to take ad- 

 vantage of the change. 

 Consequently they are 

 late in commencing to 

 grow, and when the 

 flower spikes do appear 

 they are so weak and 

 small that one can 

 safely predict that the 

 first season's crop will 

 be useless. Such is 

 the effect of planting 

 too late. 



After a Strawberry 

 plant has borne fruit 

 for three, or, upon 

 good land, for four 

 seasons, a fresh plan- 

 tation must be made, as from this time deterioration sets in. In large 

 gardens Strawberries are frequently not kept more than two years. Place 

 the Strawberries 1 2 inches from each other, in rows 2 feet apart. Choose, 

 if possible, a dull day for planting, and when the ground is moist ; the 

 plants then get a good root-hold more quickly than when the soil is hard 

 and dry. If the summer has been very hot, and no rain has fallen for 

 some time, well water the ground before and after planting, and also for 

 a few weeks until the plants have made fresh roots. Of course, if rain 

 falls, this will be unnecessary. Make sure that the Strawberry plants 

 are watered before being placed in the ground. When water is given 

 after planting in a dry soil it will run down by the side of the hard dry 

 ball, and enter the more easily penetrated ground immediately around, 

 thus leaving the plant as dry as before. Much of the after success of 

 the Strawberry depends upon the way in which it is placed in the soil. 

 The roots should be just covered and quite firm ; the crown (i.e. the 



FIG. 52. Showing how to plant a Strawberry. 

 Crown just above surface of soil. 



