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XII. Some remarks upon the Cultivation of the Strawberry, In 

 a Letter to the Assistant Secretary. By Mr. John Fairbairn, 

 F. H. S. 



Read June 1, 1830. 



Sir, 



As this is a time for the Strawberry going out of flower and 

 forming its fruit, I should feel very much obliged by your giving 

 the following mode, which I have tried for the last three years 

 with the greatest success, publicity to the horticultural world. 



After the fruit is set I stir the surface pretty freely, and put 

 on an inch or an inch and a half of well fermented dung, and in 

 case of dry weather I give an abundant watering upon the 

 dung or compost. I then immediately lay down flat tiles, with a 

 circle, at least a half circle out of each tile, the surface of which 

 I have painted black for containing the greatest portion of heat. 

 In the culture of Strawberry plants I have discovered no mode 

 so extremely advantageous to the grower, and productive of such 

 delicious fruit, after numberless experiments, as the above simple 

 but efficacious method. 



First make your beds of light soil, with a small portion of fine 

 bark of the oak, and put in your plants in the usual way, only 

 observing to make the tiles cover the whole of the bed or pave- 

 ment. You will find the night dews will be gathered by each 

 leaf and stem, and the tiles during the day will not only prevent 

 the exhalation of moisture from the soil, but also collect a great 

 body of heat from the sun, and consequently form the fruit early, 

 large, and well flavoured as well as clean from sand. 



I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, 



Stoftesbury, JOHN FAIRBAIRN. 



May 22, 1830. 



