242 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



never seen what could be properly designated 

 either male or female plants. It is often the 

 case that the flowers prove abortive, either from 

 the effects of frost late in spring, or from an 

 abnormal state of growth in the plants; but, in 

 the former case, there is neither stigma nor 

 style to be seen, only stamens. Frost fre- 

 quently proves injurious before the flowers 

 expand, and when this occurs they have what 

 is termed black-eyes, the styles having been 

 killed, and discoloured. Sterility has, however, 

 been known to pervade, with a few exceptions, 

 a whole plantation of Hautbois, although the 

 plants were not at all injured by frost. These 

 plants, however, had been taken from bearing 

 beds the year previous, and planted in a rich, 

 well -manured border, in which they started 

 rapidly into luxuriant growth, the growth being 

 to leaves rather than to fruit. The plants, 

 however, were not removed, nor were others 

 introduced, nevertheless they bore a most abun- 

 dant crop in the following season. 



Forcing the Strawberry. 



Strawberry runners intended to form plants 

 to be forced should be selected from the first 

 or earliest rooted. The earlier in the summer 

 the runners are established the longer the 

 period of growth, and consequently the stronger 

 and more matured the plants will be by the 

 end of the growing season. 



It is necessary to observe that although the 

 plants may be vigorous, with large Avell-formed 

 buds, capable of producing blossoms that would 

 set their fruit well, yet, without a knowledge 

 of the mode of growth, the whole or greater 

 part of the blossoms may be rendered abortive. 

 " Those who would understand the philosophy 

 of Strawberry forcing should begin from the 

 beginning, and first determine what it is which 

 they have to deal with. This can only be j 

 ascertained by examining the young flower-buds 

 as they exist in the plant when it makes its 

 first move towards growth. At that time they 

 are collections of tiny scales, placed over a small 

 spongy centre. By degrees they take on the 

 forms of calyx, corolla, stamens, and pistil. 

 They form successively in the order in which 

 they are named, the calyx first, the pistil last. 

 The calyx and corolla are the most simple, 

 grow the quickest, and most easily bear to be 

 hastened ; stamens require more time for growth, 

 the pistil most of all. When a high temperature, 

 night and day, with abundance of moisture, and 

 as much light as February yields, are suddenly 



applied to the Strawberry, it is compelled to 

 grow; the predetermined parts advance, and, 

 obedient to the influences which their nature 

 cannot disregard, they by degrees unfold. But 

 how 1 ? The oldest parts, namely, the calyx and 

 corolla, simple in structure, and already ad- 

 vanced in their formation, suffer no injury, but 

 appear in their usual state, arraying the blossom 

 in gay apparel of white and green. The next, 

 however, the stamens, having less time to form, 

 acquire perhaps their yellow colour, but are 

 powerless for their allotted office; while the 

 pistil, the most complicated of all the parts — 

 that which demands the longest period for its 

 perfect formation, but which is the latest that 

 the flower produces, and which is to become 

 the fruit — is a mere tuft of abortions, incapable 

 of quickening, and shrivelling into pitch-black 

 threads as soon as it is fully in contact with the 

 air " (Dr. Lindley). 



It is evident, therefore, that the main points 

 to be kept in view in forcing Strawberries are, 

 1st, to have strong, stocky plants, grown under 

 the influence of plenty of sunlight; 2nd, to 

 grow them slowly till fruit is set, in order that 

 the parts of the flowers may have time to form, 

 as they naturally do, in gradual succession. 

 The first consideration ought therefore to be 

 directed to obtaining plants with good sub- 

 stantial stems and well-formed heart-buds. 



In dry weather the plants from which the run- 

 ners are to be layered should be kept watered. 

 Plants that have been growing one year, or not 

 more than two, throw out stronger runners 

 than those that are older. By the time they 

 have pushed a joint, some good rich loamy 

 soil should be prepared, and also a number 

 of 3-inch pots. If moss can be easily procured, 

 a little of it put in the bottom of each pot will 

 serve for drainage, otherwise a few crocks or 

 some bits of old turf may be employed. The 

 pots should be filled with soil, the same being 

 pressed firmly, plunged a little in the ground 

 by means of a trowel or other tool adapted for 

 the purpose; but in doing this care must be 

 taken not to injure the roots of the Strawberry 

 plants near which the pots are plunged. 



The runner-plant should be inserted lightly 

 in the soil of the pot, and kept down either by 

 a hooked twig or small stone, as explained in 

 treating of the culture of the Strawberry in the 

 open ground. If kept moist, the runners will 

 soon take root. The point of the runners be- 

 yond the joint should be stopped, so that the 

 nourishment from the mother plant may go 

 only to the one layered. 



