STRAWBEEEIES. 



163 



ciently. By the end of September they will have stout 

 buds, and may be plunged for the wmter ; but forcing 

 must begin very gently, and they must have a moist 

 atmosphere. Commence with 55°, and by the time the 

 leaf is developed, raise it to 60°. Keep the plants near 

 the glass, give them plenty of air, and the less advance 

 there is on the 60° of heat the better. 



Alpine strawberries are grown to produce autumn 

 fruit. They bear cooler, damper, more shady situations 

 than most kinds, and will do in a lighter soil. The 

 fruit is conical, it has a peculiar aromatic flavour, and it 

 is fine for preserving whole. Some recommend growing 

 them from seed, chosen from choice specimens, sown 

 the end of January, in gentle heat. Prick out the seed- 

 lings in boxes, keep them under glass, harden them 

 off in April, and plant them out finally on an elevated 

 bed, in a sunny 'situation. They must be watered in 

 dry weather, and when the fruit forms, it may have tiles 

 or slates placed under it to save it from rotting in the 

 autumn rains. Some in preference raise them from 

 runners, like other kinds, selecting them from the finest, 

 tmest Alpine ; the fruit should be large, broad at its 

 base, and sharply conical. If the young plants are 

 planted in August, do not clear the bed of runners the 

 following summer, as with other kinds, as the runners 

 rooted then will produce fruit in the autumn, and until 

 quite late. Finer autumn fruit may be produced by 

 cutting off all the flowers until the end of June, and the 

 result will be a supply of fine fruit from the end of July 

 until the frost. Alpines may be planted only six or 

 eight inches apart ; and it is a good plan to plant some, 

 both red and white, on a north border, and to retard 

 them further by removing them every year. There are 

 several varieties : the White Alpine, small and white ; 

 Blanche d'Orleans, white also, but producing larger fruit; 

 Brune de Gilbert, and Gallande, both small, very dark 

 in colour, and abundant bearers ; the Eed Alpine, scarlet 

 and productive. All bear in summer and autumn. 



The red and white Wood strawberries are similar in 

 character, but bear in summer only. The fruit is round, 



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