HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 345 



Mulching is a very material consideration in strawberry culture, more 

 particularly in spring and fall. Covering the ground between the plants 

 with hay, leaves, &c, in spring, preserves the fruit while ripening, and re- 

 tards the escape of moisture from the soil. In the fall a covering of short 

 manure will serve the double purpose of enriching the soil and sheltering the 

 plants during winter. Tan bark has been much recommended for this pur- 

 pose, and has been pronounced a special manure for the strawberry. I have 

 used it largely for many years, but have not discovered its utility as a ma- 

 nure ; its protecting qualities cannot be questioned, and niay be usefully em- 

 ployed as a substitute — but not equal to a mixture of partly decomposed 

 leaves and stable-yard manure — for winter covering. 



The long list of named varieties, and the constant additions to the list, 

 renders it difficult to make a choice selection ; some catalogues enumerate 

 over 100 named sorts. Having tested at least half that number, I prefer 

 and would recommend the three following as combining all that has been 

 attained in this fruit : 



1. For flavor alone, Burr's Pine. 2. For size and flavor, Hovey's Seed- 

 ling, and for size, M'Avoy's Superior. These, with a few plants of the 

 Gushing, or Buist's Prize, as fertilizers, will leave little to be desired in the 

 excellence of this valuable fruit. 



Some time ago the horticultural world was thrown into a small state of 

 excitement by the announcement that in New-Orleans they had a straw- 

 berry which produced a succession of crops during the summer. Plants of 

 this variety soon found their way to the North, but, without exception, they 

 have proved an entire failure. No doubt this peculiarity depended altogether 

 upon the climate and treatment. I have frequently by peculiar treatment, 

 gathered two crops in one season from the same plants. Our strawberry 

 season might be much prolonged were means taken to irrigate the plants 

 when necessary. This might easily be effected on sloping grounds, by 

 forming a series of slight terraces, the plants grown in narrow beds some- 

 what elevated, leaving slight trenches between the rows of plants. These 

 level platforms could then be saturated with water at pleasure, and commu- 

 cation being secured, the surplus water would descend from one to the other. 

 The rain water falling on a dwelling house or barn, collected in a tank, 

 would be found sufficient for an ordinary plantation, and there is no doubt, 

 would amply repay all trouble both in the quantity and quality of the pro- 

 duce. William Saunders. 



Landscape Gardener, Germantown. 



