Queries, Answers, Remarks, ^c. 
3*29 
SxRAWBEBaiES.—Gentlemen, in your valuable Horticultural Rejjister, for this 
month, to vvhich I am a Subscriber, I observe an enquiry by W.-S., whether 
the plants nearest the parent Strawberry are not as productive as those at a 
greater distance j I am happy to say that-1 can give him some information on the 
subject, having made it my study for several years,? and having always found it to 
answer. 
When I want to make a new bed of Strawberries, it is invariably my practice 
to prick out the plants nearest the parent, (if I have sufficient,) and those which 
appear with a full bold centre, for those plants vvhich have only a single leaf in 
the centre seldom flower or bear fruit. I have found by experience that the plant 
vvhich does not flower and produce fruit the first year, generally proves barren. 
I have tjied several different sorts, not for one year, but for three^years, by cutting 
off*every runner, and leaving nothing but the parent plant to stand ; and out of a 
large quantity have found very few ever to bear fruit. Therefore every plant that 
does not flower the first year I always-pull up, and leave the deficiency to be sup¬ 
plied by the runners from the remainder; and in point of productiveness I am not 
ufraid to say that few can heat me. 
In'making my beds, (although I am aware that a different method is recom¬ 
mended,) I plant two rows of Strawberry plants, about twelve inches asunderj 
and from four to six inches in the rows, leaving on each side about eighteen inches 
for the runners, which in general fill up the space the first year, leaving plenty 
of plants for new beds, as a succession is always necessary, never allowing the 
beds to stand more than three years, as in that time I find them to run off" both in 
size and productiveness. 
But at the same time, I have to observe that even those runners which are far¬ 
thest from the parent plant, (if my directions are observed,) will likewise produce 
as much fruit,as those nearest the plant; but I should always prefer the former 
method. 
If you think the foregoing remarks on the Strawberry worth inserting in your 
Register, they are at your service, wishing you every success in your underta¬ 
king, which have no doubt will be ensured to you if you conduct it upon the same 
principles you have set out with. But I should recommend to your serious consi¬ 
deration whether it would not be better to give drawings of plants, &c. instead of 
portraits, &c., as one of your Correspondents in this month observes but of 
course that must be left to your own judgments, which you think the best. 
I am, Gentlemen, yours, &c. 
IVakefidd, Nor. 9, 1831. . H. J. 
Topping Beans.— In regard to Garden Beans, whenever I find the Black Fly' 
appearing at the top, I cut off’all the tops, taking care either to burn them or re¬ 
move them, for if left lying amongst the Beans, they will again infrat.them. I 
have always found it the safest and most eff'ectual to the preservation of the crop 
H. J. 
Aphis Fab*. —Gentlemen, I certainly conceived the system of Topping Beans to 
prevent the depredations of the Aphis Fabac had been so long practised, that scarce 
person any could have been ignorant of it. I am happy, however, to see that 
such enquiries are not treated with contempt by practical men, but that such per¬ 
sons actually condescend to give answ'ers to them ; thus proving their willingness 
to communicate theirAknowledge for the benefit of others. After your Corres- 
pondent, Mr. A. Godwin, has answered the enquiry made by W. S., p. 137, of 
VoL. I, No. 7. TT 
