90 
We must now advert to a favourite mode of cultivation with 
many persons, and indeed a very excellent one, where circum- 
stances are suitable. We do not practice it ourselves; but this 
is not from objection to the principle, but because we cannot 
spare ground, sufficiently early in the season, to lay down a fresh 
plantation of Strawberries. The pressure of vegetable culture 
compels us to take a summer crop or two off the ground in- 
tended for Strawberries. 
The plan is this ; — to obtain runners as early as possible, the 
earlier the better ; indeed, it is well to assist a portion to root 
for the very purpose, by pegging down the wires at the first 
joints; and, if this be done in pots, they can be transferred to 
the beds without disturbance of the roots. The ground being 
duly prepared, the runners must be planted with care, from six 
to nine inches apart in the row. Attention must now be paid 
to their rapid growth, by watering and high cultivation ; indeed, 
a liberal supply of liquid manure should be given, if the young 
plants seem to require stimulus ; for on early and high culti- 
vation the bulk of the crop entirely depends. Those who pur- 
sue this mode, never take more than two crops ; and, for the 
second year, one half of the plants, alternately in the row, must 
be taken out, to give proper space to the increasing size of those 
left. By these means a good crop of fruit, of the very finest 
description, is secured in the first season after planting. 
The Alpine Strawberry is much esteemed by some ; and 
indeed is very desirable in the autumn dessert. It is very 
advantageously propagated from seed. This should be sown in 
the early part of February, in a lively heat ; and w hen the young 
seedlings have formed a few leaves, they should be planted 
singly in very small pots, in a rich loamy compost. They 
must continue to have protection until the latter part of April, 
when they must be hardened off, as flower plants, for bedding 
out, preparatory to their final removal. Early in May they 
must be planted out, on rich loamy soil ; and it will be of great 
advantage to place slates, tiles, or stones, beneath them, in order 
to preserve the fruit clean. By this method abundant autumnal 
crops of fruit may be obtained. But similar advantage may be 
secured by another mode of proceeding, although not always 
with the same degree of certainty, unless especial care betaken, 
in very hot seasons, to keep the plants in free growth by watering. 
