33 
large and whole. In consequence of its growing and bearing al- 
most any where, it oftentimes loses its requisite share of attention. 
AVe shall merely notice the methods, generally, by which this 
fruit may be obtained in perfection, and in almost all sea- 
sons. The best mode of propagation, and that least practised, 
is by raising the plants from seed. Choose fit strawberries, 
rub them to pieces in water, and collect the seeds by straining 
the whole through muslin or a fine sieve, and dry them for lay- 
ing up. In the beginning of March, sow some of these in pots, 
and forward them in a hotbed; transplant in May, and they will 
bear fruit from August till frosts commence. Sow again at the 
end of March, in the open ground, and plants will be produced 
which will atibrd a further chance of a late Autumnal crop, and 
an early crop in the following year. Transplanting from seed 
or nursery beds may be performed at any season, so that if a few 
feet of ground be sowed annually, beds may be planted where- 
ever it happens to be convenient, and a succession of fruit be 
secured through more than half the year. The fruiting beds 
should never continue more than two years without a removal. 
It would be superfluous to detail the routine of culture, nothing 
but common-sense proceedings being required to secure success. 
66 Bark-bound Apple Trees. There are many instances of 
old and large apple and pear trees, which are almost constantly 
barren. This is usually attributed to unsuitableness of soil or 
situation, to unfavourable seasons, or to the ravages of insects, 
or blight. Barrenness, however, often proceeds from a cause 
which is seldom suspected, and by very many orehardists not 
even known to exist. This malady is constriction of the bark. 
The bark is an excrementitious production of a tree. It consists 
of a number of layers; a new’ one being formed in every year; so 
that the number of eoats of bark, like those of the wood, are al- 
ways equal to the age of the tree. As new layers of both are an- 
nually formed within the bark, its exterior being expansible, is 
either stretched horizont<ally, rent longitudinally, or thrown off 
in flakes periodically. This is the uniform and natural process 
of every healthy tree: but if from any cause the expansible pro- 
perty of the outer layers of bark be lost or destroyed, they be- 
come indurated, and no longer yield to the accretion of the vital 
membrane; the latter is eonfined, the motion of the sap is ar- 
rested, and a general paralysis pervades the whole system. In 
117 C6, J. Main. 
