516 Notices respecting Strawberries cultivated in Scotland. 



soils, there is no one which suits every season alike. In rainy 

 summers, a light soil is most productive, and in dry years a 

 retentive one. A strong fresh deep loam is best adapted to 

 the general run of our seasons. Strawberries do not thrive 

 on thin clayey soils, and they die on peat moss. 



The ground, in preparation for planting, is digged over, or 

 ploughed when extensive. By some it is trenched ; but this 

 on a large scale is costly, and sometimes not very expedient, 

 as by the operation the rich surface soil is buried. The most 

 promising field of young Strawberries which I have this year 

 had an opportunity of observing, had been an old pasture, 

 the turf of which was merely turned over with the plough, 

 and the surface smoothed with a rake. In general, deep 

 ploughing is practised, and the ground is well harrowed. 

 Manure is but sparingly applied, as it is supposed to favour 

 the growth of leaves rather than of fruit. Dung is given to 

 light, and lime occasionally to heavy soils. 



The plants are always set in rows, which in the luxuriant 

 varieties, are two feet distant from each other, and in the 

 others, from eighteen to twenty-two inches. It is thought 

 desirable that the leaves should cover the greater part of the 

 intermediate space, in order to protect the roots from the 

 parching influence of the sun. Of late, the rows of the 

 Scarlet and Roseberry have been disposed at the distance of 

 two feet, and a foot and a half, alternately ; the wider interval 

 allowing the gatherers of the ripe fruit space to tread, without 

 crushing that which remains, and at the same time affording 

 room for a secondary crop of dwarf Peas, Carrots, or Onions, 

 which are commonly sown in the first year, in order that it 

 may not be devoid of every sort of return. In the rows, the 



