I 70. J 
CROPPING OLD STRAWBERRY PLANTS. 
173 
however, profess to rear or force early crops of fruit better in a murky ” 
climate than those of the south in a muggy ” one ; but I know something of 
early forcing ” in the North, and can state without scruple that the climate of 
some parts of Scotland is better adapted for it than that of some parts of Eng¬ 
land. Though the Northern winters may be more severe, still there is more 
sunshine to nourish vegetation under glass. 
This reminds me to notice that the failure of fruit last season, especially of 
peaches, was nearly as complete under glass as in the open air, which corresponds 
with what I have said, that both were the effects of lack of sunshine. I back 
this by what I have said respecting the crops of this season, and by the success 
of a neighbour, whose peaches were in bloom early in February when there was 
.sunshine, while mine, which bloomed later, proved a failure, I may notice, 
however, that he dusted the pollen on the blossoms with a fine brush, and to 
this, with the cause just stated, I ascribe his success. 
I advert again to climate, or rather to the springs in England, which I have 
called muggy; but frequently they are the reverse, especially in the Eastern 
counties, where there are dry, cold, and cutting winds, without sunshine, and 
perhaps as severe as the springs in the eastern parts of Scotland, the effects of 
which reach less far inland. But as the Scotch are very sensitive as to what is 
•said respecting their country, I will only further observe that gardeners may be 
privileged to grumble at the weather, seeing that their success depends so much 
upon it.—J. WiGHTON, Cossey Parle. 
CEOPPING OLD STEAWBEEEY PLANTS. 
WILL not here enter into the disputed question whether it is the more 
profitable plan to replant Strawberry-beds every third or every second year^ 
or even annually, as some of our market gardeners and others do, or to 
\ keep the beds in bearing for a greater number of years, as, no doubt, 
every man, if he be a thorough practitioner, has become wedded to his own 
practice in this respect. But I wish to draw attention to the fact that the 
same plants may, under certain conditions, be grown to fruit for many years 
in succession, and in abundance, so that when twelve or thirteen years old, the 
last crop shall exceed all that have preceded it. 
It is thirteen 3 ^ears since I made a plantation of Strawberry plants upon a 
border having a northern aspect, and in which the roots of the wall-trees existed. 
I did not permit them to fruit the following spring, but pinched off every spike 
of bloom before the fiowers began to expand. In the three following years they 
fruited plentifully. At this stage, the plants being five years old, I decided to 
thoroughly renovate the old soil in the border for the benefit of the fruit-trees 
growing there; but as the Strawberry plants looked strong and well, having an 
nbundant crop of huge leaves of the deepest green, I determined, without hesita¬ 
tion, to throw all old conventional practices and supposed laws overboard, and to 
