ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE STRAWBEERY IN POTS. 
177 
ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE STRAWBERRY IN POTS. 
By Mr. O. Fleming. 
Of all the hardy fruits that our gardens produce, perhaps none is more generally or more 
deservedly a favourite than the Strawberry, and that considerable pains should be taken to 
obtain very early fruit by artificial means is a natural consequence. The object of the 
present paper is to offer some remarks on the method of effecting this during the earlier 
spring months. 
The plants intended for this purpose should be prepared by high cultivation during the 
previous summer, as it is essential to obtain strong-rooted, robust, well-ripened plants 
before winter. In the southern counties this is a matter of little difficulty, it being found 
sufficient to select the strongest young plants from the beds about the end of August, and 
pot them singly into 5 or 6-inch pots. But in less favourable localities, of which this 
is one, it is necessary to render nature greater assistance in producing plants of sufficient 
strength and maturity to answer the purpose desired. 
In situations of this description the plants should be obtained from the first joint of the 
earliest runners, and to ensure their removal for potting with the slightest possible check, 
small pots filled with soil should be plunged under these first joints, which must be secured 
in their position by means of small hooks. As soon as the joints have emitted roots and 
leaves, the points of the runners beyond the pots, and all other runners whatever, must be 
cut off, so as to direct as much as possible of the parent's energy into the young plants 
intended for forcing. As soon as they are fairly rooted, and before they have begun to 
extend their root§ into the surrounding soil, they should be transferred to their fruiting pots. 
The size of pots used, and the number of plants in each, must depend on certain 
circumstances, by which every cultivator must be guided in forming a decision. Where the 
watering of the plants which are being forced can be vigilantly superintended, it is decidedly 
the best method to pot them singly into 5 or 6-inch pots. It must, however, be remem- 
bered that plants in pots of this size require watering more frequently than those in larger, 
and that upon due attention to their wants in this respect, in connection with a proper 
regulation of heat and ventilation, the size, flavour, and beauty of the fruit entirely depend. 
For this reason I would recommend all cultivators who, from the extent of business under 
hand, are prevented from giving a large share of personal attention to this matter, to use 
pots of a larger size with two or three plants in each. The soil should consist of two-thirds 
of strong turfy loam and one-third of cow-dung, with a little soot added to destroy insects. 
These should be thoroughly incorporated at least twelve months before they are required 
for use, and during the intervening winter the frozen crusts should be regularly removed 
and laid by themselves. By constant attention to this practice, a sufficient quantity of the 
compost will have been exposed to the action of the frost, and with the addition of a 
moderate portion of sand, sufficient to ensure free passage for the water, will be ready for 
use at any time. 
After potting, the plants should be set (not plunged) in an open situation on a bed of 
ashes. They will require shading for a few days, until they are established in their new 
soil, after which they must be freely exposed to the sun and air, that they may make and 
ripen a healthy growth. During the growing season they must be abundantly supplied 
with water ; and upon the approach of severe weather, they should be at once removed to 
their winter quarters. In this situation they should be freely exposed to the air by the 
removal of shutters, lights, or other coverings, excepting only in wet or very cold weather. 
If frames with covers, either of glass or wood, can be spared for them, it will of course 
be preferable to any other arrangement, but when they cannot have this advantage, they 
may be plunged in ashes in the open ground. The beds should be of a convenient width, 
and hooped over with rods of willow or some other suitable material, upon which longitudinal 
rods must be fastened to support a tar-cloth covering. This should be of sufficient width 
VOL. I. — NO. VI. A A 
