92 



PEACTICE or GARDENING. 



The soil best adapted for them is a strong rich loam, and 

 one that is tolerably adhesive and retentive of moisture ; 

 for, as strawberries are generally injured in this country 

 by excessive drought, it is best to provide against this 

 calamity by planting them in a rather wet soil. A rich soil, 

 however, is not indispensable, as almost any mould that is 

 not too dry, will produce a greater or less quantity of fruit. 



Trenching the ground a foot and a hoif deep, and mixing 

 plenty of well-rotted dung with the soil that is brought 

 to the surface, is the best preparation. 



The time of planting is the first week in August for the 

 offsets of the first spring runners, always choosing those 

 that are large, and rejecting small ones. During the first 

 year, cut off all runners as they appear. Any time from 

 October to May will do for planting out old stools which 

 have borne fruit once. Those which have borne twice are 

 good for nothing, and should be thrown away. 



The offsets may be planted in a single row along the 

 borders of the walks, at ten or fifteen inches apart ; if 

 another row be made, it ought to be fifteen inches from 

 the other. They may also be planted in clumps of three 

 or more together, six inches or less apart, and three feet 

 between the clumps. Beds with four rows each, and two 

 feet between the beds for cabbages, answer well. But the 

 best situation for planting strawberries is, where a row of 

 dwarf apple, pear, or other trees, is grown on either or 

 both sides of a walk, to have a bed of strawberries, foiir 

 or five feet wide beneath them ; for in this situation they 

 will be afforded that degree of shade which is necessary 

 for them in dry weather, without injuring the trees or 

 being injured by them. In these beds they should first 

 be planted in four rows, two on each side of the trees, 

 and the offsets from these should be allowed to spread 

 so as to extend themselves over the whole of the bed, 

 only cutting off annually those that are disposed to 

 wander from the prescribed bounds of the bed. A straw- 

 berry-bed of this description would produce a far greater 

 crop than if planted out in single rows, and will continue 

 bearing for a greater number of years, as well as be less 

 hable to injury from drought. 

 It is important to fix the roots well in the ground, other- 



