1 84 THE FRUIT GARDEN 



STRAWBERRIES IN COLD FRAMES 



A crop of excellent strawberries can be obtained from plants grown in a 

 cold frame, and they will be ripe some few weeks before those outside are 

 ready for picking. Ripening as they do when the forced fruits are almost over, 

 and before outdoor fruits are ready, these strawberries are much appreciated ; 

 they are, moreover, of the best quality. Preparation for this phase of straw- 

 berry culture consists in making up a bed of leaves in the frame in August to 

 within about i8 inches of the glass. Make the bed quite firm by treading. 

 Upon this place a layer of good turfy loam 9 inches deep, making this firm also. 

 Good plants layered the previous month, July, should be planted in the bed of 

 soil in rows 2 feet apart, each plant being distant from the other 18 inches. 

 Plant them firmly. Beyond the very necessary item of giving water when it is 

 required, these plants will need little attention for some time. Remove all 

 runners that appear and eradicate weeds. The glass lights should be left off 

 until the approach of bad weather, say November, then place them on the 

 frame there to remain during winter. Air, however, may be given almost 

 every day, except when there is severe frost or heavy fog. In wet weather the 

 lights can easily be raised at the back of the frame to admit air, and the water 

 will at the same time drain away. 



With the approach of bright weather plenty of air must be given to prevent 

 the plants making too rapid progress, and bearing fruit before it is required, for 

 the great value of strawberries grown in a cold frame lies in their ripening just 

 before those out-of-doors. Some of the finest dishes of strawberries grown at 

 Frogmore have been obtained from plants grown in a cold frame. One should 

 endeavour to have them in flower by about the end of April. The fruits can 

 afterwards be either retarded or advanced as is necessary. When the fruits 

 are developing, manure water given to the plants is of great assistance. In 

 good soil and allowed to grow naturally, they produce many more fruits 

 than do plants in pots treated similarly. One can always be certain of 

 obtaining a good crop of fruits, for the plants are safe from the spring frosts 

 which often do so much damage to strawberry plants in flower out-of-doors. 

 The frame should be covered with mats when sharp frosts are probable. We 

 have found no varieties better suited for this method of culture than Royal 

 Sovereign and La Grosse Sucree. 



STRAWBERRIES IN THE AUTUMN 



A gathering of strawberries in the autumn is not now a great luxury, for 

 with the introduction of autumn-fruiting varieties, they are comparatively easily 

 obtained. With the autumn-fruiting varieties proper we are not, however, 

 at present concerned, for they are treated of separately. We would now 

 point out how, with very little trouble, strawberries may be obtained twice 

 in one season from the same plants — in spring, and again in the autumn. It is 

 usual to consign forced strawberry plants to the rubbish heap when the fruits 



