STRAWBERRY. 



215 



therefore, prepare the ground the season before, planting and 

 incorporating it with an abundance of manure, to the depth of 

 eighteen inches. The exposure must be entirely free from 

 the shade of trees or buildings. For early crops, plant on an 

 aspeot that has an inclination to the south or south-east. For 

 late crops choose the north or west. By this method the 

 Strawberry season is greatly prolonged. 



Planting. — The periods for performing this is in March 

 and April, or August and .September : in either of these 

 months we have been equally successful. Beds four feet wide, 

 each containing three rows, and the plants fifteen inches apart 

 in the row, leaving alleys two and a half feet wide between the 

 beds, for the operations of gathering, weeding, hoeing, &c. 

 Never take any other crop from among them, except a few 

 Radishes or Lettuce, the first season. Destroy the runners 

 after the middle of July, unless they are wanted for plants ; 

 hoe them freely, and keep the ground in an open condition. 

 Some light, rough litter should be sprinkled over the plants 

 during Winter, in cold localities. In light soils dig in be- 

 tween the rows every Autumn, a few inches of well-rotted 

 dung ; but in strong and deep alluvial soils it may be dis- 

 pensed with. In dry seasons give the plants a few waterings, 

 after they have done blooming, with any liquid manure, or other 

 rich water, which will greatly promote the swelling of the fruit. 

 A plantation will last three or four years ; and to have this 

 fruit in perfection plant out a portion every year. For this 

 purpose we advise to plant those sorts that are called pis- 

 tilate or female plants, allowing every sixth row to be of a 

 variety that is called staminate or male plants. This latter 

 sort keep within bounds, to prevent the runners intermingling 

 with the bearing kinds. It is a prudent precaution to lay 

 straw or other clean material between the rows of the fruiting 

 plants, before they come into bloom, to prevent the fruit being 

 injured by heavy rains, sand, or dust, 

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