574 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Alpine Strawberries. — Of late years these small and delicious fruits have become 

 better known, and may be classed as distinct autumn varieties, for by growing such kinds 

 as the St. Joseph or any of the Quatre Saisons varieties fruits may be had well into 

 October. As these kinds are so readily raised every year from seed or runners, they give 

 little trouble. This class is quite distinct from the varieties named for the open ground, and 

 few varieties can be relied upon for a lunger supply. The best method of culture is to raise 

 the plants from seed, which should be sown in March under glass. These will give 

 excellent fruits the next June, and these small-leaved Alpine varieties produce runners at 

 the same time that fruit is being produced. The earliest formed runners begin to form spikes, 

 and another set of runners appears. These follow suit, and the plants ripen fruit until cut 

 down by frost. Seed sown in May in light rich soil will produce seedlings to fruit the 

 following year. Doubtless the best method of culture is to sow under glass in pans 

 or boxes, then prick' the seedlings off into rich soil, when large enough, in cold 

 frames and plant out in beds I2in. to 15m. apart, with 12'm. between the plants and 

 1 5 in . to i8in. between the rows. If sown in the open, planting out is not done 

 until August, and even less space will suffice. On the other hand, seed may be sown 

 in the autumn in a cold frame, and the seedlings pricked out into boxes and wintered under 

 glass. Being planted out in the spring, they will then give fruit the same autumn. Another 

 plan is to get stock from runners. These Strawberries keep fruiting on the new growths 

 made, and such kinds as the St. Joseph may be termed perpetual, as their fruits are 

 produced over a long season ; for instance, the old parent plant will fruit in June, and succes- 

 sions may be obtained from the new grow ths made right into the autumn. This class requires 

 lighter soil than the ordinary kinds, but needs ample manure — beds should be made every 

 year, destroying older ones, whether raised from seed or layers. The St. Antoine de Padoue is 

 an excellent companion to the St. Joseph, and will, 1 think", be larger ; it is a welcome 

 addition to the perpetual fruiters. The fine Gunnersbury Alpine is one of the best for flavour 

 and crops freely. Then, again, Mich kinds as the Alpine Red and White are very good, 

 the latter being of rich flavour. Louis Gaultier is a good light-coloured fruit. 



THE TERRACE, TAN-Y-BWYLCH , NORTH WALES. 



