bookings' garden manual. 



131 



Soil and Cultivation : A very deep, rich, free soil, 

 damp, but well drained, in an open situation, is that 

 best suited for the strawberry. It should be trenched 

 two feet six inches deep, leaving the bottom spit where 

 it was, after being well broken, as previously directed. 

 The top spit should be ivell manured with vegetable 

 manure and ashes. The whole of the soil should be 

 lightly strewed with hay, straw, dry leaves, or cut grass, 

 wheu the plants begin to fruit — partly to protect the 

 roots from the heat of the sun, and partly to prevent 

 the rain beating the soil on to the fruit : the supply 

 should be sufficient therefore to effect both purposes. 

 Irrigation is absolutely necessary for the strawberry — 

 water, water, water ; but it must not be stagnant. 

 The runners should be removed as they appear, unless 

 required for the formation of a new bed. After the 

 fruit is all gathered, give the surface of the bed a good 

 dressing of vegetable manure, forking it in lightly be- 

 tween the rows. 



THE TAMARIND— (Tamarindus Indica). 



A beautiful spreading deciduous tree, well suited 

 to the climate. It has long been an inhabitant of our 

 gardens, and has borne fruit in Brisbane and Glad- 

 stone. The fruit consists of the dark pulpy matter in 

 which the seeds are embedded in the pod. It is 

 separated from the shell, is placed in layers in casks, 

 and boiling syrup poured over it The flavor is an 

 agreeable sweetish acid, and the infusion of the pulp 

 forms a grateful refrigerent beverage, valuable in febrile 

 diseases. The tree thrives in a loamy peat, and is 

 highly ornamental. Distance, twenty feet. 



THE WALNUT— (Juglans Regia). 



The fruit of the walnut, when ripe, is in esteem for 

 the dessert, and in its green state is used for pickling. 



