16 



CATALOGUE OF STRAWBERRIES. 



CULTURE, 



It is requisite that the ground for Strawberry-Beds be perfectly free 

 from all weeds and their seeds. The preferable soil is a rich, firm loam, 

 that retains moisture, but sufficiently friable for filtration, which should be 

 highly manured; but the manure must be decomp'-sed, without a possibil- 

 ity of naus-ous weeds being introduced therewith. 



The beds should be three feet wide, with four rows of plants length- 

 wise, and these a foot apart. each way. This width will admit of alf the 

 fruit being gathered from the sides without trampling on auy plants. A 

 path, of about fifteen inches in width, should be left between the beds. 



The best periods for Spring planting are the month of April fur this and 

 more northern latitudes, and the months of February and Match for the 

 more Southern States. And for the plantations, after fruiting, we prefer 

 the months of August and September in this latitude and Xor;h of it, and 

 the months of September and. October for the more Southern localities. 

 The early autumnal planting has this superiority — such plants will produce 

 a fair crop the ensuing summer. 



The Pistillate varieties possess the great advantage, that they may be 

 allowed to run together in a mass, and will, in this mo.ie, bear profusely; 

 and this is the most profitable course of culture; whereas the larger Her- 

 maphrodite varieties (with only two or three peculiar exceptions) wili not 

 produce a fair crop unless they are cultivated as distinct plants and kept 

 clear of runners. There can be no such result as a failure in the crops of 

 Pistillate varieties (when accompanied by Staminates or Hermaphrodites). 

 Evtry Pistillate variety is productive, varying only in abundance. The Her- 

 maphrodites may all 'be deemed -moderate bearers, except where we have 

 denoted otherwise; and the few exceptions mostly produce fruit of but 

 medium or small size. The Primate and two or three other Hermaphro- 

 dites comprise the only varieties, with large fruit, that produce large crops. 

 In selecting an impregnator to plant amongPistillares.it is the belter course 

 to select a productive Hermaphrodite variety, as this will prevent any loss 

 of space. 



The Hermaphrodites or Staminates should be planted in dis<inct rows 

 or beds, and not among the Pistillates, as the more rapid increase of the 

 former would soon cause the beds to be overrun with them. 



Independently of the Alpine class, there are several varieties which pro- 

 duce a moderate"second crop of fruit when grown in a moist soil and irri- 

 gated. Tnese are ISo. 6, 76, 82 and 90, all of which, by ample irrigation, 

 may be made to produce fruit during the hot months here ; and at the South, 

 where the heat is so much prolonged, they become perpetual bearers when 

 subjected to permanent regular irrigations. 



In regard to hardihood, all the varieties here enumerate 1 will withstand 

 the winters of the most Xorthern States by simply covering the beds with 

 four inches of straw or leaves, or leaf-mould from the forest, by which ^he 

 danger of the plants freezing out is preverted. Spent ta- may be used as 

 a winter covering, to the depth of three or four inches ; but it should be 

 removed very early in the Spring, or ir will materially ; njv.re the crop. 



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