By Mr. James Smith. 



519 



nature of the season. That is the most favourable, in which 

 there are, now and then, gentle rains from the time the blos- 

 som expands, till the fruit begins to form. It too frequently 

 happens that this is not the case ; for during the month of 

 May, and the greater part of June, dry east winds prevail 

 along the whole of the East coast of Scotland. On such 

 occasions the Strawberries are usually left to their fate, as 

 the labour of watering is too great to be performed to much 

 good purpose. Irrigation, by means of canals, has received 

 little attention ; and, indeed, most of the grounds are so situ- 

 ated, as to render that operation impracticable. It is pro- 

 bable, however, that it may come partially into use. During 

 the season of the present year, an eminent grower on the 

 banks of the Esk was very successful in this way. Another 

 individual, in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, flooded his 

 Strawberry plants from the common drains of the city, and 

 obtained, in consequence, the finest fruit that were brought 

 to the market. 



The above notices respecting the cultivation of Straw- 

 berries are communicated to the Horticultural Society, not 

 as what may be accounted best, but as what is actually done. 

 Yet it is probable, considering the activity of the growers, 

 and the competition which they have to maintain, that a 

 cheaper, and at the same time an equally effective mode of 

 cultivation, could scarcely be devised. 



