RATIONAL FRUJT CULTURE. 101 



CHAPTER XV. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



THE Strawberry is generally supposed to owe its name to 

 the fact that straw is placed around the plants to keep 

 the fruit clean. As it was so called long before that 

 material was used for the purpose, the idea is obviously erro- 

 neous. The Strawberry is really the Strew-berry — in other 

 words, the plant that strews its berries about the ground. 

 In the earliest documents in which the word occurs it is 

 written Streowberige. 



POSITION OF STRAWBERRV-BED. 



If the cultivated Strawberry were merly an iihproved form 

 of the species which grows wild in this country, it would 

 naturally be quite hardy; but it is a hybrid between a number 

 of different species, and as on« of the most important of them 

 is a native of Chili, it requires warmth, and is liable to be 

 damaged by severe weather. For an early crop, the best posi- 

 tion is a slope facing south, with some protection from east 

 winds. Later crops may have a cooler aspect, but without 

 sunshine the fruit will not colour well, and will be deficient 

 in flavour. 



SOIL FOR STRAWBERRIES. 



Plenty of moisture during the growing period is essential. 

 Given that, the nature of the soil does not matter much, 

 provided that it is made quite firm. If it is loose there will 

 be an excessive quantity of foliage, with the result that there 

 will be comparatively little fruit. Of course, light soil is 

 liable to get very dry in summer. To guard against that 



