68o 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



coming into contact with the damp soil. When this is done, the 

 fruit ripen sooner, and are always clean, even after heavy rain. A 

 bed of Strawberry-plants usually continues to bear well for two 

 or three years. In the second year, preparations should be made 

 to replace the plants with new ones, so as to have the beds always 

 in full bearing. The weakest runners and those produced latest 

 in autumn may be transplanted into a nursery-bed, in order to be 

 planted out in spring, but these must not be expected to bear fruit 

 until the year after they are planted out. Strawberries are some- 

 times forced in hot-houses, but more usually in frames or pits 

 heated by hot-water pipes. Plants for forcing are raised in pots 

 and placed in artificial heat from the end of October until Straw- 

 berries begin to ripen in the open air. By pinching off the first 

 runners of plants growing in the open air beyond the first joint, 

 and rooting each of the young plants in a flower-pot filled with good 

 soil, plants may be obtained sufficiently well grown to be repotted 

 in autumn and forced in the ensuing winter. The same method 

 may be employed to forward plants which are to be planted out in 

 the open air. The varieties of Hybrid Strawberries which are best 

 adapted for forcing are : — Princesse Royale, Marguerite, Vicointesse 

 Hericart de Thury, and La Constante ; and, of English varieties. 



Black Prince^ Keens 

 Seedlings and British 

 Queen. 



Uses. — The fruit is 

 eaten raw, and is also 

 made into sweetmeats 

 and preserves. 



Van-Guard Strawberry. 



Albany ( Wilson).— 

 An early and productive 

 variety. Plant of vigor- 

 ous, compact growth ; 

 leaves dark green, with 

 long, thin, hairy stalks ; 

 leaflets oval, sharply 

 toothed ; flower - stems 

 numerous, erect; flowers 

 small with narrow petals. 

 Fruit small, rounded,, 

 or heart-shaped, dark 

 scarlet-red, and very 

 abundant ; flesh red,, 

 juicy, but very acid. 

 Ripens mid-season. Its 

 acid flavour and small 

 size disqualify it for table 



