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when the young fruit is swelling. These three points constitute 
the chief mysteries of Strawberry cultivation ; and, it should 
especially be borne in mind, that frequent removals of Straw- 
berry plantations, afford fresh plots in the kitchen garden, for 
the various species of the Brassica tribe; which, from their 
variety, recur so frequently, as often to puzzle the gardener 
in attempting to plan ajudicious rotation of cropping. 
The best season for planting is July ; indeed young runners 
cannot be obtained much earlier, and every tyro knows the im- 
propriety of using old plants. The ground having been duly 
trenched, and some half- decomposed manure incorporated, 
the rows may be marked out; the larger kinds, as the British 
Queen, Keen’s Seedling, Elton, &c., at from thirty to thirty-six 
inches apart ; whilst those of smaller habit, as the Grove End 
Scarlet, the Hautbois, &c., may be planted as near as twenty- 
four inches from row to row. A distance of two feet is neces- 
sary between the plants of the larger kinds, in the row ; and 
about eighteen inches will suffice for those of smaller habit. 
We usually have planted a double quantity in each row for the 
first year, making it a point to hoe up, or otherwise destroy, 
alternate plants, as soon as the first bearing season is over. With 
regard to their subsequent cultivation, we hold it essential to 
destroy, or at least keep under, all superfluous runners. These 
frequently grow so luxuriantly, that they shade the principal 
leaves; and, in that event, tend to produce barrenness in the 
parent plant. 
A winter dressing is, of course, necessary; and we would 
l)ere observe, that as some protection is necessary to the crowns, 
during severe frosts, it is much better to allow all the old and 
decaying leaves to remain on until the early part of February; 
thus they afford protection ; for we find, by experience, that the 
plant becomes completely paralysed after a severe winter; espe- 
cially if sprucely trimmed, as some persons advise, in autumn. 
Our practice is, and none can meet with greater success, to 
cut away all decayed and decaying leaves, at the end of Feb- 
ruary : then to apply a slight amount of manure between the 
rows, and to dig the dressing in ; merely a spade’s width in the 
centre between the rows. This has a tendency to check over- 
luxuriance in the leaf, and by the time the flower truss is rising, 
a new series of roots will be formed in the freshly cultivated 
