634 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 7, 1890. 
people repeatedly say they would not give a handful of 
Gooseberries for a bunch of Grapes or any other fruit. 
Still, that and other instances are exceptional. Tastes 
differ in this as in all other matters, and it is well that 
it is so. 
The blossom, so far as I have seen, augurs well for a 
good crop ; but much will depend on the weather and the 
adoption of artificial means during the next few weeks 
for securing this. It is remarkable that Strawberries 
set better in showery than in dry weather; and this 
being so, it devolves on the grower to see that they do 
not suffer in that direction. Not only is rain essential 
to their successful setting, but it is also highly essential 
to the swelling of the embryo fruit; and when this 
important element is not forthcoming in plenty, arti¬ 
ficial means must be resorted to. In dry weather any 
of those in blossom or swelling their fruit should have 
careful attention ; and in the case of those in blossom 
it is quite indispensable to have a run over them every 
day with a good supply of water distributed through 
rosed watering-pots, while those swelling their fruits 
may have a heavy watering two or three times a week, 
giving weak liquid manure between the rows at mid¬ 
swelling. The want of water over the blossom, either 
by natural or artificial means, is generally the cause of 
much sterility in Strawberries, whether in forcing or 
growing out of doors. The most effective time to apply 
water overhead for fertilising purposes is mid-day, and 
the brighter the sunshine the more satisfactory the 
results. Grown in fields, this operation is easily per¬ 
formed with an ordinary water-barrel having a finer 
perforated trough than is used for ordinary field work, 
and a great stretch of ground may be gone over in a 
very short time, as they do not require a heavy watering 
for this purpose, but merely enough to distribute the 
pollen. 
Many defer preparing for the keeping of the fruits 
clean until they begin to show colour. This often 
leads to serious injury, not only in the inevitable 
bruising of some fruits, but also—and this more serious 
still—the breaking of the trusses. We all know that 
as soon as the fruit commences to swell the trusses 
gradually incline downwards with the increasing weight 
until they reach the ground, or lie hard on each other. 
Their reaching the ground is the thing to obviate by all 
means, and seeing this must be done if good clean fruit 
is expected, any material intended to prevent this 
occurrence must have early attention. Good wheaten 
straw is certainly the best that can be used for this 
purpose, although mulching with ordinary stable litter 
in the autumn is not despisable. It serves a double 
purpose ; at once diffusing manurial qualities, and 
washed by the snows and rains is rendered a most 
useful material for preserving the fruit clean. The 
next best thing, indeed, in some respects better, is the 
Bracken Fern (Pteris aquilina). This dried, and stacked 
like hay the previous year, is clean, and it has the 
advantage of being detested by slugs—great enemies of 
the Strawberry grower whether on a large or small scale. 
I have frequently used the Bracken green, but being 
soft it does not remain firm enough for the purpose. 
Grass mowings are of all things the worst, as when the 
fruit or foliage is damp it gets entangled amongst the 
fingers of those gathering, and is frequently introduced 
to the basket, imparting a filthy appearance to the 
fruit. Not only so, but grass can rarely be got without 
some seedy, weedy stuff amongst it to leave a crop of 
something not wanted, and thus entailing labour in 
extirpating it more than can usually be afforded. Birch 
brushwood, or Beech twigs are very useful where the 
foliage is strong, preventing sun or air reaching the 
lower trusses of fruit. This material should be cut into 
pieces about a foot long, and inserted close to the plant 
similar to staking Peas. It will be observed that 
light and air are thus admitted, and if properly used, it 
bolsters the fruit up, exposing it to the sun in a way that 
few other things would. Common drain-pipes of 2-in. 
or 3-in. diameter are also good for large fruits ; and 
from the heat generated by the sun impart an extra 
fragrance, and I think extra flavour too. These should 
be placed end to end and close to the plants. The 
mulching or dressing between the rows may be dispensed 
with (where considered judicious) in the latter two 
methods of exposing the fruit. The mulching or 
dressing should not be lost sight of, as if not keeping 
the fruit clean, it will preserve moisture at the roots— 
the prime factor in their swelling. 
These notes would be incomplete without reference 
being made to the various enemies of the Strawberry 
grower ; and taking them in their order of importance, 
mice head the list. They are very partial to the half- 
ripened fruits, and special precautions should be taken 
to get rid of as many of these little thieves as possible 
before this stage is approached Setting ordinary mouse 
traps here and there amongst the rows is as good a 
means to get rid of mice as any, seeing that we cannot 
continually keep cats there. Not many, however, are 
selfish enough to begrudge the mice a fair share of these 
good things, but the mischievous little things nibble 
and cut away more fruits by far than they eat: perhaps 
exercising a qualified right, or willing to qualify their 
nibbling propensities to the ocular demonstration of 
their direst persecutors. Rats make sad havoc in the 
cutting of whole trusses of fruit and storing them in heaps 
in a far more mischievous-looking way than mice. 
They are, everything considered, the most universally 
detested animals, and when attacking Strawberries in 
large numbers must be summarily dealt with, using 
every means except poisoning for their speedy ex¬ 
tirpation. 
Slugs are, perhaps, worse than either rats or mice in 
some places, and not easily dealt with ; but a good 
strong dose of sulphate of ammonia, diluted at the rate 
of two dessert-spoonfuls to the gallon of water, thins 
them, and at the same time stimulates the plants very 
considerably. This is best applied in showery weather, 
and early in the season—before flowering. In wet 
weather hand-picking has often to be resorted to, and 
all things considered is, pei'haps, the most effectual 
means for their removal. Wireworm is another, and 
quite a formidable foe. It often attacks the plants, 
boring its way into the centre, and then reducing the 
stem, weakening the plant frequently to its death. It 
is also very fond of the ripe fruits, and any laying on 
the ground are sure to be full of these tough little 
worms in a short time. One consolation, their presence 
is easily detected, and at no time are they found on 
fruits that are clear of the ground. Pieces of Carrot 
placed at intervals along the rows are good traps, and 
if regularly attended to and immersed in a vessel of 
hot water, will soon diminish their numbers. 
Everywhere, and under nearly all circumstances, 
blackbirds and thrushes are most persistent in their 
attacks, and netting (common netting) is the best 
preventive of their unwelcome visits ; while, on a 
large scale, the gun must at times be called into requi¬ 
sition. I invariably make this the last resort, and am 
positively averse to the thinning of our feathered 
songsters in any form. Where netting is available for 
any fruit crops it ought to be put over them before 
any signs of ripening takes place. This, in many 
instances, wards off birds altogether, as not having 
tasted the fruit they are not so determined, as a rule, 
to have them, although, in the case of Cherries in 
particular, if there is a single broken mesh in the nets 
they will find it out, and very soon leave the trees— 
well, not quite as they found them. In netting 
Strawberries, where at all possible, stakes of about 6 ft. 
in length should be driven in at regular distances 
outside and amongst the rows, and wire strained over 
them to support the nets. Needless to say, this is by 
far the best way to net all small fruits. Netted in 
this manner the fruit is gathered comfortably and with 
little trouble, compared with the too common practice 
of having the nets resting on the foliage. By the 
latter method of netting many fruits are torn off in 
lifting the nets for gathering purposes, and in wet 
weather, with occasional sun and little wind, the 
fruits do not dry so quickly ; many fruits, too, are 
deprived of sun and air by being entirely covered 
with the foliage drawn tightly over them. Where the 
latter method is adopted, nets should be had in narrow 
strips sufficient to cover three or four rows ; this 
makes their weight lighter, and renders them all the 
easier to remove, while reducing the chances of tearing 
off the fruits in removing. 
Only recently have I discovered another enemy in 
rabbits. Being more favourably circumstanced hitherto 
may substantially account for this being a new ex¬ 
perience to me ; but choosing a piece of ground for a 
new plantation not secured against these vermin, they 
are evidently determined to show me they, too, have a 
penchant for Strawberries, though in this case it is the 
foliage that suits their taste. This will in an alarming 
manner diminish the chances of success in the reducing 
of their vigour, and consequently finishing their crowns 
in a flimsy manner. Under glass, red-spider is the 
worst enemy we have to contend with ; and this just 
shows the unwisdom of ripening forced Strawberries in 
a vinery or Peach house—the usually accepted struc¬ 
tures, in most instances not through choice, but 
perforce, having nothing else available. When the 
ripening stage is approached (at which period water 
must in a great measure be withheld), a Melon, 
Tomato house or Pine pit suits very well in the 
absence of a Strawberry house proper. Tines and 
Peaches are so very susceptible to the attacks of red- 
spider that any plant having the least chance of 
introducing this insect should be kept out of these 
structures. But, nevertheless, Strawberries may safely 
be forced in any of these structures till they show 
colour, &c., if carefully attended and never allowed to 
suffer through lack of moisture. 
In the gathering of Strawberries for all domestic 
purposes great care must be exercised in having every¬ 
thing clean, not excepting the hands, and the baskets 
in use should be carefully lined with Rhubarb, Cauli¬ 
flower or Cabbage leaves. The next important item is 
to see that they are thoroughly dry, a3, being of a 
spongy nature, water has a very deteriorating effect on 
the fruit when ripe—in short, for all practical purposes 
they cannot be gathered too dry. 
When the rows are encased with twigs or pipe3, as 
described above, a little caution is necessary not to 
displace these, and this is best accomplished by keeping 
both feet in one division, and gathering one side of the 
row at a time. This may seem a waste of time, but on 
trial will be found equally as expeditious as the 
ordinary method of “ striding the row,” and altogether 
more in keeping with the usual way of performing work 
in a garden. It is needless to say that both hands 
should be free to gather, but this trifling detail is 
repeatedly ignored by inexperienced hands, to the 
wholesale destruction of valuable fruit. Tearing the 
fruit off by one hand without steadying the truss with 
the other, unless when nothing further is expected or 
wanted, is inimical to the berries that are left, and 
tantalising to those responsible. Certainly some 
varieties part from the husk more freely than others— 
notably Black Prince and Stirling Castle—but, as a rule, 
when they part so easily they are too ripe for ordinary 
use. When compelled to gather Strawberries not for 
dessert purposes, I find when placed thinly in baskets, 
and suspended in dry airy houses for a few hours before 
they are required, re-introduces fragrance and flavour— 
indeed, renders them quite suitable for the purpose 
intended. In gathering dessert fruit the hands should 
never touch it, and this is easily managed by nipping 
the footstalk through with the finger and thumb. This 
at the same time serves as a handle when dishing,'as 
also when eating. 
For dessert purposes all the largest and most 
tempting fruits should be selected, and those known as 
the “crown fruits ” are best. These should be laid as 
carefully in the basket as if they were eggs, placing 
them all neatly with stems up, so that when about to 
be dished each can be caught by the stem, and thus 
avoiding handling and consequent bruising. 
For preserving purposes these have to be gathered 
with the husks separated from the fruits, and this again 
requires consideration, as in this way the fruit must be 
handled. Getting a hold of the fruit just at the husk 
between finger and thumb is the safest and best mode 
of gathering them for preserving. When gathered in 
large quantities, it is most injurious, not to say in¬ 
judicious, to lay them in deep. They should never 
be placed in many layers on top of each other, as the 
juice exuding from the base imparts a sweaty appear¬ 
ance tending in great measure to soften them in bulk, 
and,’in short, detracts in a marked degree from their 
perhaps superior proportions. We use shallow baskets 
for all fruit gathering, and are at once impatient of 
their depth being taxed in the Strawberry, as also 
Raspberry gathering. Another important and oft- 
ignored particular is the leaving of large quantities in 
baskets in the full glare of the sun. They should 
never be left in the sun after gathered, but at once be 
covered with large Rhubarb or other leaves, and placed 
in a cool shady corner till all are ready for transit, 
whether to the mansion, the market, or the cottage. 
Where the aim of the gardener or vendor is to have 
plump fresh fruit as a first desideratum, jostling in any 
form ought to be carefully guarded against. In the 
case of 'those at hand, or within easy distance of 
mansion or market, a light hand-barrow is the most 
commendable medium of transit; the next best, wheie 
distance is considerable, is a light spring-cart, with a 
good layer of straw underneath the baskets to act as 
a counter-spring, while the method adopted on a large 
scale for hundreds of miles’ transit by rail cannot be 
easily improved upon. It is not, indeed, the object of 
these notes to suggest any improvement in this latter 
direction, as it affects a different class of gardeners 
from those with whom the writer identifies himself 
but nevertheless a class worthy of our best interests and 
consideration. Market gardeners have to make the 
most of their time and resources in these days, and 
while hoping for a good crop all round, let us unite in 
wishing for the market gardener, or Strawberry grower 
pure and simple, a good and remunerative Strawberry 
harvest.— J. Proctor, Glcnfinart. 
