I02 FRUIT FARMING 



The rows of plants are then moulded up with a light 

 plougn on each side to keep the crowns warm and 

 dry in mid-winter ; any excess of rain draining into 

 the furrows. 



Mulching is done about the first week in June, clean 

 barley straw being used at the rate of about \\ tons 

 per acre. 



This is the Kent plan. At Sandwich (Kent) the 

 finest British Queens are grown, and the culture there 

 differs in wider planting, possibly because of deeper 

 soil, while four years are considered long enough to 

 keep a bearing crop on the land. The one year's 

 plants (those set September to March previous) have 

 the flowers picked oflF by hand the first year, to 

 strengthen the stools, and in all cases the land is 

 kept scrupulously clean from weeds. 



Manure. — Rich farm-yard manure is preferred, as 

 much as 60 tons to the acre ; shoddy and soot are 

 used, the latter tending to keep down slugs, while it 

 is recommended as a spring- stimulant. 



As is well-known, the Aberdeen Strawberries come 

 in after the Southern fruit is over, and they grow many 

 more kinds : Vicomtesse de Thury, Black Prince, 

 King of the Earlies, for the first crops ; and Myatt's 

 Improved, Rivers' Eliza, Paxton, President, Duke of 

 Edinboro' and Keen's Seedling, with British Queen 

 for main crop. They are planted 30 by 15 inches 

 apart, and three years is considered the limit of a 

 paying crop, but on deep or very highly manured 

 soil, as much as eight years. By the use of both 

 early and late sorts the picking is extended to eight 

 wcrks. Planting so far north is necessarily deferred 

 till April. Iho between alleys are lightly dug during 



