126 PIOTORIAL PBAOTIOAL FBUIT QBOWINQ. 



the second, when the Strawherries required more room, and therein they 

 would come to grief. There is no better rule as to planting than to give Sir 

 Joseph Paxton 3 by 2 feet,- and the rest 2J by 2 feet. 



It is a great encouragement to young Strawberries to cut off all the 

 runners the first year, and it is a great help to old ones to go over the beds 

 in autumn, trim up the plants, remove all the old leaves, and loosen the soil 

 round the crowns. 



If Strawberries intended for forcing are struck into 3-inch pots, as many 

 are, they should be transferred to 6-inch when roots show at the drainage 

 hole. A very good compost for them is sound, fibrous loam 3 parts, leaf 

 mould 1 part, and bone meal at the rate of 1 pint to each bushel of soil. 

 The plants must not be left exposed in the winter, or damp and frost will do 

 sad work between them. The plants mast either be put in a frame or else 

 stacked on their sides and covered with bracken or litter. 



Forcing may begin in December if there is a warm house, but it is weW 

 to bear in mind that there is danger of the plants going blind if a high 

 temperature is maintained in dull weather. A night temperature of 50° to 

 m° is suitable, with a rise of 10" by day. Beware of letting the plants set 

 and swell a large number of fruits in dull weather. The inevitable result is 

 small and uneven berries. The grower who satisfies himself with half a 

 dozen per plant will come out better than the one who allows the plant to 

 do as it likes. (See next page.) 



There are too many varieties of Strawberries. When some daring nursery- 

 man arises who will cut his list down to thirteen or fourteen sorts we shall all 

 bless him — and buy from the other man just the same I That cultivator is 

 the most sensible who fixes on two or three standard sorts which he knows 

 to be suitable and good, and makes them his sheet anchor. Such Straw- 

 berries are Sir Joseph Paxton, Royal Sovereign, and Vicomtesse Hericart de 

 Thury. I by no means say that these are the best for all soils, but 1 

 claim that they average the most successes. 



The following are remarkable for fine flavour : British Queen, Dr. Hogg, 

 Countess, and Latest of All. 



The following are good late varieties: Eleanor, Elton Pine, and Waterloo. 

 The following are good " Perpetuals " : Gunnersbury Alpine and St. Joseph. 

 The following are excellent new sorts : Fillbasket, Mentmore, Scarlet Queen, 

 Thomas Laxton (see page 128), and Louis Gauthier. 



The following are good for forcing : La Grosse Sucree, Royal Sovereign, 

 and Vicomtesse H6ricart de Thury. Excellent garden sorts not included in 

 these lists are President, Newton Seedling, and Auguste Nicaise. Good 

 early varieties are King of the Earlies and Royal Sovereign. 



■Wil^ 



