STRAWBERRIES FOR FORCING. 



843 



Noble. — Second-rate flavour, large, good colour, and seta 

 freely. 



Sir C. Napier. — Sharp flavour, large, good colour, and sets 

 freely. 



President. — Good flavour, large, good colour, and sets freely. 

 Sir J. Paxton. — Good flavour, large, good colour, and sets 

 freely. 



For early forcing I recommend the first three kinds, and the 

 last three for succession. Of the six kinds there are two which 

 I consider the best — Sir C. Napier and Vicomtesse H6ricart de 

 Thury. Take one season with another these two produce the 

 greatest weight of fruit. 



In the past season I have given a limited trial to Auguste 

 Nicaise and Latest of All. Both have some good points ; they 

 are large and set freely. I purpose trying them again next 

 season. 



When the kinds are decided upon, the first thing is to pre- 

 pare a piece of ground, exposed to the sun, for runners, to produce 

 runners the following season. The ground should be well 

 trenched and manured some time before the runners are ready 

 to plant, to give it time to settle. The runners should be planted 

 as early in the season as they can be procured, in rows a yard 

 apart and eighteen inches from plant to plant in the rows. The 

 following season take off all the flowers, so as to induce the growth 

 of strong early runners. About the 1st of July is the time the 

 runners are ready to place on pots. Strawberry plants require 

 a great deal of labour bestowed on them to prepare them for 

 forcing. Generally the best way pays the best in the end ; it is 

 certainly so with Strawberry plants. Good plants do not take any 

 more room in the houses than second-rate ones. 



Strawberries thrive best in rather heavy soil out of doors. 

 In pots a more porous soil suits them. Sandy, fibrous loam is 

 what they require. If the loam is heavy it may be made porous 

 with burnt earth, so that water passes through freely, which is 

 most essential while they are out of doors. In times of heavy 

 rains add to the soil 100th part of soot ; it is a good manure, and 

 distasteful to worms. 



There are different ideas about the sizes of flower-pots for 

 the plants. For forcing early I like 48's (4^-inch pots). Good 

 drainage is necessary. For this nothing answers better than 



