STRAWBERRIES. 
175 
the rationale of the art itself; it is generally supposed that the 
species of two distinct genera will not mingle, though cases are 
not wanting which disprove this ; while, on the other hand, there 
are species from which no crosses have as yet resulted, though 
often tried, that belong all to one genus; it may, however, be 
regarded as an approximation to a rule that the several species 
comprising a genus will unite in this way, as it is held that the 
plants of any natural order may be grafted on each other, there 
are exceptions in each case, but the majority of experiments 
confirm the opinion. In cross-breeding, the greater the distinc¬ 
tion between the parents the more vigorous will be the offspring. 
Hortulanus. 
STRAWBERRIES. 
August being the season when strawberries make their first 
and best runners, it may be well to remind those who design to 
cultivate this delicious fruit, either in quantity or to a limited 
extent, that no time should be lost in preparing the ground 
intended to receive them ; for it is most essential to the expected 
crop of next year that the runners are planted out at the earliest 
period. As soon therefore as these have made roots, properly 
dig or trench the ground, applying manure if the staple is but 
poor, but in good land it is preferable to defer the dunging till a 
later period. The runners should be planted as they are taken off, 
in rows two feet six inches apart, and six inches from one another, 
giving them a liberal supply of water for the first few days to assist 
them in getting good hold of the new soil. The distance between 
the rows will admit of a light crop of vegetables being grown in 
the same ground, a row of endive or winter greens may therefore 
be planted intermediately without injury to the strawberries, and 
an immediate return will thus be made sufficient to cover the 
expense of the manure, which should follow the removal of the 
temporary crop. The object in leaving the ground unmanured 
till this time is, that the plants may have the greatest quantity of 
food when they most require it; the check consequent on 
