STRAWBERRIES. 
177 
it is in effect like removing a natural protection to the roots 
merely for the sake of substituting an artificial and inferior one. 
It does not require any great amount of physiological know¬ 
ledge to become aware of the mutual dependence which exists 
between the roots and leaves, for the removal of either will so 
palpably affect the other, that the slightest observation will make 
the error apparent, and yet every season witnesses a repetition of 
this barbarism. Let us then just look into the effect of this ope¬ 
ration, that those who blindly follow an old practice may be 
aware of the serious injury they are inflicting on their strawberry 
beds. And, first, what is the object proposed in this removal of 
the leaves ? Its advocates say, to reduce the beds to a proper 
trim, and to ensure plenty of young active leaves by the spring ! 
The affectation of neatness may be left unanswered, but as re¬ 
gards the leaves, no more efficient means could be devised to 
nullify the proposition. 
The rudiments of the future crop of fruit, it is well known, 
in strawberries, is formed in the preceding autumn, they are even 
visible on examination in the short, succulent, downy tuft or 
stool, as it is called, which constitutes the heart of the plant 
surrounded by embryo leaves of a similar succulent and tender 
consistence; to protect these must therefore be a matter of para¬ 
mount importance, but, instead of so doing, the old rule says, cut 
away all the present leaves, simultaneously with which the ground 
about the plants is to be dug: what then is the position of the 
plant ? Its roots are checked in their action by removal of the 
foliage; they may imbibe sap, but there are no organs for its elabo¬ 
ration, consequently they are soon in a state of repletion, and those 
which escape laceration from the spade die. The power of vitality 
existing in the heart-knot of the plant alone preserves it till a 
few weak rootlets can be forced into the earth again to re-com- 
mence the work of absorption, but a delay has occurred which 
brings the frosts of winter very near, ere the small, weak, yellow 
leaves can be unfolded for the assimilation of food; and just as 
they regain the requisite vigour the chill of winter paralyses their 
efforts: they sink beneath the confliction of opposing causes, 
carrying the putrefaction of death to the very seat of their 
owners’ hopes, and then it is subsequently found that “ the stools 
