404 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



system of cultivation from runners it is no wonder that these Straw- 

 berries have never become popular, or even satisfactory under good 

 culture. 



When raised, however, annually from seed success may be assured, 

 even under moderate conditions. The difference between seedlings and 

 runners is most marked both in vigour of growth and fertility. Our plan 

 is to sow the seed every spring from the middle of March to the middle of 

 April. This is done in shallow boxes, 1 foot by 2 feet, rather than in 

 pots or pans : hence the seed is not sown so thickly, whilst moisture is 

 retained for a greater length of time. The soil used should be light and 

 friable, say leaf soil and sandy loam in equal proportions. A house or 

 pit where the temperature can be kept at from 55° to 65° will be a good 

 place for raising the seedlings. When these are large enough to handle 

 and have made a fair amount of roots they should be pricked off. For 

 this we use boxes of the same size as for the seed, putting about fifty 

 young plants in each box. At this distance apart they do not become 

 drawn up or weakly, whilst with each plant when next transferred to a 

 border outside a good ball can be secured. The pricking off should be 

 finished in May, the plants being then kept in a cool frame for a time 

 until established and growing freely. Then, if the room be wanted, they 

 can be stood outside. Later on — say, during July — the stock is again 

 moved, being this time transferred to a partially shaded border (ours 

 faces the east). Here they are put out with as much soil as possible at 

 about 6 inches apart, so that a small hoe can be worked between them. 

 Here they remain until October, when as a plot of ground becomes vacant 

 they are planted out in their fruiting quarters. Meanwhile all that 

 needs be done is to keep the ground well stirred and any young runners 

 removed, paying attention to the watering during hot weather as may be 

 needed. The ground selected should be well trenched, being manured 

 according to its needs. We use farmyard manure and lime. Light soil 

 is preferable to a close retentive soil for the Alpine Strawberry, whilst if 

 somewhat shaded it is just as suitable for the wellbeing of the plants. 

 The ground should be set out for the rows at 18 inches apart, then 

 plant three rows and miss one ; thus a three-feet space is left between each 

 bed of three rows. If the ground be limited, some space might be spared 

 by planting four rows instead of three and then miss one row. Plant 

 firmly and water afterwards. If slugs or worms are troublesome, an 

 occasional light dusting with lime will serve a good purpose. During 

 frost the plants may be somewhat loosened ; should that occur they 

 should be made firm again when a thaw has taken place. Besides 

 keeping the ground well stirred upon favourable occasions, no other 

 attention will be needed until the first flower-spikes and then the runners 

 appear. These should all be removed up to the first week in July, after 

 which about half only should be taken off ten days later on, so as to give 

 a succession. These seedling plants will under this treatment give a good 

 succession of line fruits and in quantities from the end of August well on 

 into October, or for nearly two months. This plantation will the 

 following year commence to fruit in the regular season, ripening about 

 the same time as 1 Royal Sovereign,' but continuing until the next set 

 of young plants are again in bearing. Thus Alpine Strawberries may be 



