242 THE FRUIT GARDEN. MAY. 



way than in beds,) should now have the runners 

 cut from them, and be completely cleared from 

 weeds. By carefully divesting the plants of run- 

 ners, the fruit will be considerably increased in size. 

 If the plants have been planted in lines about two 

 feet asunder, and eighteen inches in line, every 

 stool should be rendered quite distinct from ano- 

 ther, and the earth between them should be stirred 

 up with the hoe. This is the practice of the best 

 strawberry farmers about Edinburgh ; who drive a 

 good trade by the culture of this fruit, and are per- 

 haps, the most extensive growers of it to be found 

 in any part of our island ; as high and low, rich 

 and poor in Edinburgh, feast on strawberries in 

 their season. 



If the weather be very dry, strawberries in flower 

 should ( be occasionally, and those having set their 

 fruit, frequently refreshed with water. The garden 

 engine should be employed in this business, if the 

 plantations be anywise extensive, as using the wa- 

 tering-pot would, in that case, be too tedious a me- 

 thod. Some of the strawberry growers above men- 

 tioned, go over extensive fields with the water-cart, 

 and water them when the fruit are swelling off; 

 desisting, however, as they begin to colour, that the 

 flavour may not be deteriorated. 



