THE CULTIVATION OF THE STRAWBERRY. 
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known to produce of owe kind, (the Elton Pine) twelve hundred quarter seives, equal to twelve 
hundred gallons, every morning for the season, of that kind; and, when we consider that hun¬ 
dreds go to market with smaller quantities, some idea may be formed of the quantity consumed, 
and the extent of ground necessary for the supply of the metropolis. 
Judging from nature, and the wild habitat of the native Strawberry, the dry sand-banks and 
hedge-rows of our wild “ Strawberry of the Woods,” one would naturally suppose that they did 
not require rich ground ; that any soil of average quality would grow them ; and that deep trench¬ 
ing, heavy manuring, and frequent surface stirring were unnecessary operations, a waste of time, 
and sinking of capital, quite unnecessary in the management of this admirable fruit. Thus how 
futile it is to argue that the natural position of a plant is indicative of the most suitable soil; 
since it is quite evident that our Strawberries would starve upon their natural soil, and would 
become completely barren. 
It is, however, in the vegetable as in the animal kingdom, the higher a plant is bred the 
more delicate it becomes; and thus, while the Alpine Strawberry, and Welch or Scotch cattle, 
will live and flourish upon the comparatively barren and Alpine rock, the improved and more 
refined breeds require the rich valleys of the Lothians, of Ayrshire, of Yorkshire, and Devon¬ 
shire, just the same as the high bred plants of the Strawberry, the Cabbage, and all our culinary 
vegetables, require the rich vale of the Thames, or the highly manured and deep-soiled gardens of 
the country to bring them to perfection. Thus it is possible to change the nature of native plants, 
and the higher they are bred, and the more refined they become, the more necessary is it to tend 
them with a parent’s care. Having stated this much for the nature of plants, we will pro¬ 
ceed to consider what are the most favourable situations for their artificial management. 
Now it cannot be denied that our present refined class of Strawberries, to grow them to 
perfection, requires a deep, highly enriched, porous, and well drained soil; and, where 
these necessaries of success do not present themselves naturally, means must be taken to 
provide them for the plants, or the penalty of not providing suitable soils must be paid by the 
cultivator. Perhaps the best kind of soil that could possibly be selected is a hazel loam, of a 
retentive, though not too adhesive character. This should be trenched deeply, at the least, 
three feet, and each layer of soil should be enriched three or four inches thick with manure. 
If the ground is light or sandy, cow-dung is the best; if loamy, decayed stable-dung; and, 
if very heavy or adhesive, stable-dung, in a strawy, or half decomposed state. This being 
trenched in, which it ought to be in the winter or spring, keep it moved and stirred about 
as much as possible until the plants are ready to plant, which will depend upon the manner 
in which they have been prepared for planting. 
The market gardeners of Deptford prefer planting as early as possible in June, making 
choice of that ground which has been occupied by Cauliflowers, trenching it deeply, planting 
immediately, and watering copiously until (and, if necessary, after) the plants are established. 
For this purpose they take advantage of the first runners, and layer them so as to get them 
thoroughly well rooted, and being well attended to after planting, they invariably produce a 
full crop of fruit in the following season. Where the ground is poor or wet, or not con¬ 
sidered sufficiently deep, it is thrown into beds four or six feet wide, with paths eighteen inches 
wide, the soil to the depth of twelve or fifteen inches being thrown upon the beds, and upon 
these beds two or three rows of plants are planted. After the crop of fruit is gathered, the plants 
are digged in, and thus Strawberries form one change in the rotation of crops. Those who 
practice this method of management, assert that the finest and most abundant crops are thus 
obtained, but it is only upon suitable soils, where proper attention can be paid to them, that 
such a mode of cultivation could be properly carried out. Upon poor soils it would be almost 
impossible to get runners sufficiently early to plant out in June, and hence, perhaps, the plan 
followed by some gardeners, of preserving plants in pots through the winter, and planting them 
out in the spring would be preferable. This system of cultivation is as follows :— 
A quantity of plants are potted in October, and are preserved in a sheltered situation 
through the winter. In the spring a piece of ground is prepared in the usual manner, and in 
