380 General J^otices. 



4. That in wet seasons manure is frequently very injurious, from 

 its causing the plant to grow too luxuriantly, and thus to produce but 

 few flowers; while in very dry seasons, it is equally beneficial. 

 Much more depends on a change of soil, than on its composition and 

 quality; with moderate attention, good flowers may even be obtained 

 from plants growing in brick rubbish. 



5. That water is a point which cannot be too much attended to; a 

 great difference exists between hard and soft water; but still more 

 depends on the manner in which it is applied; for one or two good 

 waterings are much better than a small quantity given three or four 

 times a week, which is but too common a practice among amateurs: and 



6. That taking up the roots immediately after a frost has destroyed 

 the top, is the principal cause of so many roots dying during the 

 winter season. 



We recommend the young dahlia grower always to remember these 

 facts, which may not only be taken as rules for judging new dahlias 

 by, but may also save him the vexation and disappointment conse- 

 quent on the production of bad flowers from new and expensive 

 sorts of dahlias. {Gard. Chron.) 



On the Cultivation of Strawberries. — The following article on the 

 cultivation of the strawberry, is so full of information that it is un- 

 necessary for us to make any comments. We commend it to the 

 perusal of every lover of this fine fruit. — Ed. 



In the middle of July choose a piece of land in an open situation, 

 taking care that there are no trees any where round to any way draw 

 up your plant; the ground must be as free as possible from ihe wire- 

 worm or any kind of grub; the place intended to plant must be well 

 trenched, eighteen inches deep; if a sandy loam, put a slight layer of 

 manure at the bottom, then the soil that is taken out to work up your 

 ground when trenched in; get some well rotted turf and manure, and 

 strew it with some wood ashes over the surface; have it well dug to 

 bury the turf and manure, but not too deep; then form out the beds. 

 The beds that we work are twenty feet long by four feet wide: this 

 should be the width, the length may be guided by your land. When 

 thus prepared, proper care must be taken in securing good healthy 

 plants; to effect this, have none but what are first runners, and taken 

 from bearing plants. By those means you are sure not to have them 

 from barren plants, which is an error not to be lost sight of. Plants 

 three rows in a bed eighteen inches apart each way; take care to 

 have the advantage of a damp, if not a wet, day for planting; well 

 press them down, but never cut the roots: they must be well secured 

 in the ground, or probably the worms will lift them out: well rake 

 the ground and then leave them till spring, with the exception of wa- 

 tering, if wanted, during the dry weather, and keeping clear froni 

 weeds; not to disturb the soil any more than can be avoided, that be- 

 ing one of the main objects in the production of fine fruit. Then, as 

 I have stated before, leave them till spring till they begin to shoot 

 out their crowns, then take a sharp knife and cut oti'the i\eM\ leaves, 

 and have them well cleaned and raked; not to touch them with either 

 spade or fork. As soon as they are in bloom, if the season should 

 haj)pen to be very dry, take a fine rose watering-pot and give them a 

 gentle watering, in the shape of rain, to set iheir fruit, this being of 



