692 Method of forcing Strawberries. 



Art. XIX. Qyi a Method of forcing Strawberries. By R. T. 



Sir, 

 As I have just been preparing a quantity of strawberries for 

 forcing, and as I have had an opportunity of trying all the dif- 

 ferent ways I have read or heard of respecting them, perhaps 

 you will allow me to lay before your readers an account of my 

 mode of culture. During the last few years the forcing of 

 strawberries has very much improved, and a great many me- 

 thods have been tried in order to find out the best to obtain 

 a good crop. Since it is pretty well known that young plants 

 force best and bear most, and that the stronger the plants are 

 the more fruit they will bear, it is, of course, important to know 

 how they may be obtained. Some people have planted the 

 young runners as soon as they could procure them, in a shady 

 situation, and then potted them in the autumn ; others have 

 potted them at once, and shaded them till they had begun to 

 grow, and by this means have had tolerably good crops : but, 

 though in wet summers, like the last three, runners are to be 

 obtained tolerably early, yet in dry summers it is very diffi- 

 cult to have them soon enough to acquire strength before 

 winter. The method I practise, and recommend to others, is 

 this : — Some time in March, or in the beginning of April, 

 take up of the last year's runners as many as will fill the 

 requisite number of pots : but instead of planting them in a 

 continued bed, as commonly practised, let them be planted in 

 single rows around the quarters of the garden, and as much 

 exposed as possible ; by which means, instead of having weak 

 drawn-up plants, with very small hearts to produce fruits, 

 they will be strong and firm from exposure, and produce 

 abundantly. Any time in September let them be taken up, 



' with as much earth as will adhere to the roots, and potted 

 in good loam; that from the old melon beds will do very 

 well, with about one fourth of the old dung mixed with it. 

 It is a common practice to put them three in a pot (size 32); 

 but plants treated in this way will frequently be so strong as 

 to allow of only one : this must, therefore, be regulated by 

 their strength. I have sometimes planted one plant in a pot 

 (size 48), and for early forcing I prefer it ; as the fruit will 

 soon reach the rim of the pot, and hang over, instead of lying 

 on the damp mould among the leaves. 



I forgot to state that, when the plants are taken up to pot, 



' the leaves ought not to be cut off, except any very straggling 

 ones. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 5^.21.1830. R. T. 



