666 THE STRAWBERRY. 



fore putting out the plants. But even if this is not necessary, 

 it should be dug deeply, and well enriched with strong manure 

 beforehand. 



The best exposure for strawberries is an open one, fully ex- 

 posed to the sun and light. 



Culture ix Rows. The finest strawberries are always ob- 

 tained when the plants are kept in rows, at such a distance 

 apart as to give sufficient space for the roots, and abundance of 

 light and air for the leaves. 



In planting a plot -of strawberries in rows, the rows should be 

 two feet apart, and the plants, of the large-growing kinds, two 

 feet from each other in the rows ; of the smaller-growing kinds, 

 from one foot to eighteen inches is sufficient. The runners must 

 be kept down by cutting them off" at least three times a year, 

 and the ground must be maintained in good order by constant 

 dressing. During the first year, a row of any small vegetables 

 may be sown in the spaces between the rows. Every autumn, 

 if the plants are not luxuriant, a light coat of manure should be 

 dug in between the rows ; but if they are very thrifty, it must 

 be omitted, as it would cause them to run too much to leaf. 



A light top-dressing of leaves, or any good compost, applied 

 late in the fall, though not necessary, greatly promotes the 

 vigour of the plants, and secures the most tender kinds against 

 the eff'ects of an unusually cold winter. Before the fruit ripens, 

 the ground between the rows should be covered with straw, or 

 light new-mown grass, to keep it clean. 



A plantation of this kind in rows will be found to bear the 

 largest and finest fruit, which, being so fully exposed to the sun, 

 will always be sweeter and higher-flavoured than that grown in 

 crowded beds. A plantation in rows is generally in full perfec- 

 tion the third year, and must always be renewed after the fourth 

 year. 



Culture in alternate Strips. A still more easy and eco- 

 nomical mode is that of growingthe strawberry in alteraate strips. 



Early in April, or in August, being provided with a good 

 stock of strong young plants, select a suitable piece of good 

 deep soil. Dig in a heavy coat of stable manure, pulverizing 

 well and raking the top soil. Strike out the rows, three feet 

 apart, with a line. The plants should now be planted along 

 each line about a foot apart in the row. They will soon 

 send out runners, and these runners should be allowed to take 

 possession of every alternate strip of three feet — the other strip 

 being kept bare by continually destroying all runners upon it, 

 the whole patch being kept free of all weeds. The occupied 

 strip or bed of runners will now give a heavy crop of strawber- 

 ries, and the open strip of three feet will serve as an alley from 

 which to gather the fruit. After the crop is over, dig and pre- 

 pare this alley or strip for the occupancy of the new runners 



