STRAWBERRIES. 



249 



large-fruited varieties. Mulching is advisable, 

 quite as much so as in other kinds, but it should 

 be of a finer description. The mulch may con- 

 sist first of leaf-soil fairly well decomposed, or 

 a spent Mushroom bed with short clean litter 

 added as the fruits begin to colour. 



It is better to plant 18 inches apart each way 

 in beds, missing out every fourth row to form 

 an alley. If the plants have time to become 

 well established before winter, and at the same 

 time are vigorous, they may be allowed to bear 

 an early crop of fruit the following summer. 

 The better plan, however, would be to pick off 

 all the flower trusses until the middle of July, 

 as in the case of the runners. By this means a 

 grand autumn crop of fine fruits will be ensured 

 up to the time of frost supervening. The 

 following season the plants so treated should 

 carry the first early crop, which will ripen 

 about the same time as Royal Sovereign; these 

 same plants will continue to bear well until 

 the beginning of August, when the young plan- 

 tations will be ripening their crops. After the 

 early crop has ceased to be good, it is better 

 to destroy the plants and rely upon the younger 

 plants alone for the autumn supply. The an- 

 nual raising of a sufficient number of seedlings 

 will recommend itself as the most satisfactory 

 mode of cultivation. 



Towards the late autumn, when a morning 

 frost is apprehended, the plants may with ad- 

 vantage be netted over, preferably by straining 

 the nets upon wires at about 4 feet or so from 

 the ground. This will ward off a considerable 

 amount of frost. Although birds are well 

 known to prey upon Strawberries, they do not 

 do much harm to the Alpine sorts. 



Alpine Strawberries are grown in pots 

 for forcing in France, but this system will 

 scarcely find favour with us, more particularly 

 where the claims upon the glass space are 

 heavy. The pot system is better perhaps for 

 extending the late supply rather than for an 

 early crop. If movable frames can be spared 

 these might be placed over a portion of the 

 plants either for the first early picking or for the 

 latest crop. The best time for picking the fruit 

 is in the early morning, and the time when the 

 fruits are most appreciated is at breakfast. In 

 gathering the fruits it is best to pick straight 

 away into the dish, fancy basket, or punnet, so 

 that they go straight to the table. It is not 

 necessary to retain the stalks in picking. 



Selection op Varieties of Alpine Strawberries. 

 Belle de Meaux. — This is quite distinct and of excellent 

 flavour. In form and colour it much resembles Hautbois, 



being of the two the darker fruit, and in shape obtuse 

 rather than conical. 



Berger and Janus are recommended by the French 

 growers. The red and white varieties of F. de Gaillon 

 do not produce runners, and are not so desirable. The 

 plants are of dense growth, and the fruit somewhat -mall. 



Blanc (White) is a very distinct and useful variety, and 

 is much superior to the old white form. When gathering, 

 a mixture of this and a red -fruited kind has a pretty 

 effect. 



Jiouf/c Ameliore (Improved Red). — This is a very dis- 

 tinct variety with slender fruits, often measuring 2 inches 

 in length. Very prolific and hardy. 



Perpetual Strawberries 



These recent additions to garden Strawberries 

 were brought into prominence a few years back 

 on the Continent, and are now better known in 

 this country, although their culture is not yet 

 well understood. They are reputed to be 

 crosses between the ordinary large - fruited 

 or English Strawberry and the Alpine forms. 

 After a few more years' experience with these 

 Hybrid Perpetuals they will probably be largely 

 grown in this country. The ordinary methods 

 of cultivation for Strawberries do not answer 

 for these. 



The first Perpetual Strawberry raised was 

 Louis Gauthier, a white-fruited variety with a 

 slight tinge of pink upon the sunny side. As 

 a summer-fruiting Strawberry it does not com- 

 pare well with our well-known kinds. It is 

 most prolific, and many fine fruits are produced. 

 Its habit is robust, hence it should be planted 

 at least 2 \ feet each way — 3 feet even, if room 

 can be spared. The old crowns do not produce 

 fruits again in the autumn, hence it is not in 

 this respect similar to those yet to be noted. 



The successional crops of fruit are produced 

 upon the first and second runners of the cur- 

 rent season ; hence the advice to plant far 

 apart and to encourage the production of 

 runners as early as possible, even if it be neces- 

 sary to denude the old stools of all their flower 

 trusses. When these runners have been secured 

 they should at once be pegged down securely, 

 stopping the growth beyond the second one. 

 As soon as they are well rooted the old crowns 

 should be removed to afford room and light for 

 the young stock. These will quickly show their 

 flower trusses and in due course ripen fruits, if 

 mulching and watering are attended to. 



The runners can be layered into 48' pots, 

 and during the months of September and 

 October be placed in a frame or upon shelves 

 in a cool house to ripen. There is no difficulty 

 in securing ripe fruits up to the end of Xovem- 



