380 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[Mar, 



berries generate roots, and strike them into the ground nearly 

 two feet deep in the course of the season. The pine, Grove 

 End, and roseberry, succeed better than any other in stiff 

 and shallow soils, and should be planted in an open situa- 

 tion, and not in one too much shaded. Many sorts of 

 strawberry are now raised annually from seed, which is 

 sown when the fruit is ripe. Plants are produced to plant 

 out at this time, and if planted in rather a moist situation, 

 will produce abundance of fine-flavoured fruit the following 

 autumn. The Alpine strawberry should always be raised from 

 seeds, and differs from all others of the same family, inas- 

 much that it produces abundance of fruit the same season 

 that it is sown. For this purpose, it is sown in spring, 

 on a bed of rich earth, and sometimes in pans or shallow 

 boxes, where, in the latter way, it is forwarded, by being 

 placed in some of the forcing departments, not too warm, and 

 when above ground gradually hardened to the open air. By 

 such means, it gets rather stronger than those reared on a 

 bed of light earth out of doors. In July, or August, they 

 are, in either case, fit to plant out for good, which is generally 

 done in a shaded situation, either behind a wall, or hedge, in 

 rich moist soil, allowing the plants two feet apart, row from 

 row, and one foot apart in the line. In this way, abundant 

 crops are obtained, and will continue bearing until destroyed 

 by the frost. The season of this fine fi'uit can thus be pro- 

 longed for a considerable time : forced roseberries, pines, or 

 Alpines, being ripe in March, and the seedling Alpines in fruit 

 till the middle of November. In making plantations of this 

 fruit, plenty of room should be allowed them, that they may 

 not be destroyed in the process of watering or gathering them. 

 The hautboy generally thrives best in light soils, and cannot 

 be scarcely over-dunged, as it is not so likely to be thrown 

 into a superfluity of leaves by manure as some of the others. 

 There are various sorts of this species, all of them esteemed 

 for their fine flavor ; one variety has the parts of fructification 

 so perfect, that it bears plentifully, being capable of fecun- 

 dating itself ; while some other varieties are so imperfect, that 

 they contain the male parts in one flower, and the female in 

 another. Still those latter varieties are reckoned the finest 



