190 Strawberry Growing in Hampshire, [june, 



acter and be placed on the ground in early spring, when the 

 rains have an opportunity of washing the soluble constitu- 

 ents of the manure into the soil, leaving the sweetened or 

 otherwise blanched portions of the straw for the fruit to rest 

 upon. A large number of the growers now use clean straw 

 at the rate of from 15 cwts. to 1 ton per acre, the cost of the 

 straw being from 455. to 505. per ton, with the additional 

 expense of 8s. to 10s. per acre for laying or bedding it 

 between the plants. 



The life of a plantation is largely dependent upon soil 

 conditions and the amount of attention which has been 

 devoted to the plants as regards manurial stimulants. On 

 heavy soils plantations are often maintained for a period of 

 five years, whereas on lighter land three years is the limit. 

 No advantage is derived by prolonging the life of a planta- 

 tion beyond the fourth year, and the more successful culti- 

 vators favour young plantations. 



Gathering the Crop. — An average yield of strawberries 

 taken over a series of six years may be estimated at 1,000 

 baskets per acre, each basket containing from 4 to 5 lb. of 

 fruit. Some growers would, however, put this average at a 

 considerably higher figure, and I have known several acres 

 to yield as much as 2,000 baskets each ; but these figures are 

 exceptions to the general rule, and are only realised in par- 

 ticularly favourable situations when the plantations are at 

 their best, and the season is propitious. 



Excluding the special prices obtained for the few very early 

 consignments, the price per basket in a good season may be 

 put at is. 3d., while in a bad season it falls as low as lod. ; 

 thus a fair average under all conditions may be estimated 

 at is. 



The cost of gathering the fruit is an item of considerable 

 expense, and will vary from \d. to \d. per lb., or, on an 

 average, i\d. per gallon, in addition to which is the expense 

 entailed in carting the produce to rail, and freight to London, 

 which may be put at 3d. per gallon. The small growers 

 usually seek the assistance of their families or friends when 

 gathering their own fruit, the larger growers being obliged 

 to employ casual labour. The former are not usually in 

 possession of their own carts, and they are therefore depen- 



