THE STRAWBERRY. 243 



air constantly on the house, and go over all the hlooms 

 that are ready and fertilise them with a camel-hair 

 brush at mid-day. Those which throw their blooms up 

 boldly above the foliage will be found to set freely ; 

 while those that do not, will not be so certain. The 

 conditions most conducive to a successful set early in 

 the season are, — as much light as possible, a regular 

 supply of fresh air, a night temperature not rising above 

 60° nor receding below 55°, a moderately dry atmo- 

 sphere, and just sufficient water at the roots to keep the 

 plants in healthy action. Anything like stagnation of 

 water about the roots of strawberries when in bloom is 

 most injurious, and consequently the pots should never 

 be placed in saucers. 



When the fruit are set and about the size of peas, 

 the chief difficulty is past. They may then have the 

 temperature ranging from 60° to 65°, with 10 or 15 

 more with sun-heat. Water wUl be required more 

 liberally and frequently at the roots. Unless for the 

 later crops, when water is consumed with great rapidity, 

 never place the pots in saucers full of water. The best 

 way in all respects is either to cut pieces of turf and 

 lay below them on the shelves — ^into them the plants 

 root and derive nourishment — or saucers with holes in 

 them to let the water escape, filled with half loam and 

 half old mushroom-bed manure, can be placed under 

 them with equally nourishing results. The finest fruit 

 I have ever grown in pots had 6 -inch pots half filled 

 with rich fresh soil placed under them, and into these 

 they sent their feeders en masse. And the pots being 

 so far immersed in others got protection from drying 

 currents of air and sunshine. 



A close stagnant atmosphere in dull weather must be 

 avoided after the fruit are set, otherwise they are apt 



