STRAWBERRIES. 499 



Cultivation. 



As early in the summer as the young runners of 

 strawberries have taken root, they should be taken up 

 and planted out in nursery beds, at a distance of five or 

 six inches from each other. These, in the course of the 

 summer and autumn, will make fine, large, well-rooted 

 plants, and many of the kinds will be sufficiently strong 

 to produce fruit the following summer. 



In preparing the ground for the reception of these 

 plants, it should be trenched two spades deep (twenty 

 inches), with a quantity of half-rotten dung mixed with 

 the first spit. In planting them out, the most econo- 

 mical method perhaps will be, to plant in beds of four 

 rows each, with intervals of two and a half or two feet 

 between the beds, according to the sorts to be planted. 



The strongest growers, such as Wilmot's Superb, 

 and all the varieties of the third Class, may be fifteen 

 inches from row to row, and fifteen inches between each 

 plant ; the next strongest may have the rows fifteen 

 inches apart, and the plants twelve inches ; the third 

 size, comprising all those of the sixth and seventh 

 Classes, may have the rows twelve inches apart, and the 

 plants twelve inches ; the fourth size, those of Class I. 

 and V., may have the rows twelve inches apart, and the 

 plants nine inches. 



During the first year, all the runners should be cut 

 off the plants some time before they have taken root, 

 which will give the stool plants full possession of the 

 soil. Such sorts as show fruit should have the ground 

 covered, when coming into blossom, with either short 

 grass or with straw, which will keep the blossoms clean, 

 and the fruit free from soil when ripe ; besides, the 

 surface of the ground will be protected from the scorch- 

 ing rays of the sun, and in case of heavy showers the 

 rain will thus be prevented from running off. As soon 



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