204 



Modern Strawberry Growing. . [july, 



limited quantity of dung is remarkable. A dry season, so trying 

 on light land, has very little effect on plants in stiff soil. 



My conviction that heavy soil is more economical than light 

 for strawberries, taking into consideration durability of the plant 

 and yield of fruit, is based on some amount of experience. In 

 handling light soils, I found that only by trenching and heavy 

 manuring could a plant be kept going for even three years. 

 This makes culture an expensive item. If I had a warm situa- 

 tion, I should never hesitate to plant strawberries on clay, and 

 I do not think that the objection which many growers have 

 to this class of soil is well based. Such land has sterling qualities, 

 it produces plants of 'mmense and sustained vigour. The one 

 serious objection is lateness, but this is most marked where the 

 situation is unfavourable. Clay with shade, or clay on a 

 northern slope, must stand condemned. 



In view of the large quantities of yard manure now used for 

 strawberries, it behoves growers who have cause to complain of 

 scanty crops to think twice before they condemn the plants as 

 going barren. One sees strawberries making an immense 

 amount of top sometimes, and yet when examined the crowns 

 are found to be small. This may be the result of over-manuring 

 rather than of an inherent tendency to barrenness ; anyway, 

 a dressing of quicklime scratched in at the rate of 3 to 4 tons 

 per acre cannot possibly do any harm, and is very likely to do 

 good. It should be followed by a dressing of superphosphate 

 at the rate already mentioned. A good time to apply this is 

 February. 



Cultivation for One Crop only. — What gardeners term 

 Cl culture as annuals " is beginning to engage the attention of 

 growers, and it may be well to consider this system, which is 

 certainly spreading in private gardens. " Culture as annuals " 

 means that the plants are pushed rapidly on from early runners, 

 fruited once, and then done away with. This seems somewhat 

 revolutionary, but when one considers all the circumstances, 

 it has a good deal to commend it for private gardens. The crop 

 falls in with the rotation of a large kitchen garden almost as 

 though it were a vegetable. For instance, a gardener may 

 take a crop of early peas or potatoes from one of his kitchen 

 garden quarters in July, manure the ground, and have it ready 

 for strawberries in August. The following year he will be able 



