OX THE SCIENTIFIC CULTURE OF THE STRAWBERRY. 49 



seedling pistillates, and the Early Scarlet hermaphrodites, both flowering 

 regularly together, and both being ever-bearing. Recently he has widely 

 disseminated a seedling of his own, and named after himself. 



It is believed that all these valuable seedlings have been originally ob- 

 tained by judicious crosses with the hardy, ever-bearing, or monthly, wild 

 strawberry, such as the monthly alpine, or others of a similar type. Cer- 

 tain it is, that not only Mr. Peabody, but numerous other persons through- 

 out the States, obtain by simple field culture a continuous bearing of fruit, 

 from early spring, until the winter's frost sets in — a thing altogether un- 

 known in this country, although quite as practicable here as there. 



Mr. Peabody, in his statement, given in the " United States Agricultu- 

 tural Report," says : — 



" It is now well known throughout the Southern States, that for many 

 years I have cultivated the strawberry extensively, and have had from my 

 beds a constant succession of fruit six months, and frequently ten months, 

 in the year. While I am now writing (Dec. 24) one of my beds (of an 

 acre) is loaded with ripe fruit, specimens of which I have sent to New 

 Orleans, Montgomery, Charleston, New York, &c. This bed has scarcely 

 produced a runner the past season, the causes of which will be found in 

 my method of culture. I prefer a sandy soil — that is, a sandy loam with a 

 good admixture of vegetable matter — in which the plants stand eight to 

 ten inches apart. In the fall of the year I go over the field with sharp 

 hoes, cutting up all runners, and leaving them on the ground to decay. 

 Somewhat later, I cover the whole field with partially decomposed leaves 

 from the woods or swamps ; the rains of winter beat down these leaves ; 

 the fruit-germ finds its way through them, and the first mild weather of 

 spring the blossoms appear. If I desired to obtain an abundance of leaves 

 and strong runners ali over my beds, I should employ animal manure ; 

 but as I want fruit, and no runners, I never use animal manure of any 

 kind — nothing but leaf-mould, and an occasional sprinkling of wood- ashes. 

 The leaf-mould keeps the ground cool and moist, and the fruit clean ; and 

 does not stimulate the roots to make runners. Whatever runners are made, 

 cut off close ; keep the ground clear of grass and weeds, and manure with 

 leaf-mould. Beds thus formed and cultivated will, to my certain know- 

 ledge, continue productive for twelve years, and, I have every reason to 

 believe, as much longer as this system of culture is continued. Straw- 

 berries so cultivated are remarkable for their lusciousness and rich aroma. 

 A very continual watering, whilst bearing, is desirable — as the crop is won- 

 derfully increased, both in quantity and quality, thereby." 



Such is Mr. Peabody's mode of raising this delicious fruit ; and although 

 we have not the fine climate of Georgia, and may not expect fruit in an 

 open field in December, yet we certainly can adopt the course of treatment 

 that he so clearly points out to us. Our course, then, is to plant the best 

 ever-bearing pistillate, and hermaphrodite impregnator ; to use no manure 

 but leaf-mould, or other suitable decayed vegetable matter, with an occa- 

 sional sprinkling of wood-ashes; to keep all runners off; and to water 

 very frequently during the time of fruiting. 



The best descriptions of strawberry for planting, generally, in England 

 would be, in our opinion, " Hovey's seedling," the " Early Scarlet," 

 " Longworth's prolific," " M'Avoy's superior," and the " Extra Red" (all 



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